This year, Azerbaijan has been selected as the Presidency of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), to be hosted in Baku from 11-22 November.

Also known as the UN Climate Change Conference, this year’s event will be presided over by Azerbaijan Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev.  Azerbaijani politician Samir Nuriyev heads the Organising Committee.

Objectives

COP29 aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C, emphasising the urgent need for investment in climate action. The approach involves boosting ambition through national plans and transparency while driving action with effective financing to reduce emissions and address climate impacts.

The COP29 Presidency stresses the importance of operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund to support vulnerable communities, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It also calls for enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with 1.5°C targets and urges the submission of these by 2025, with a focus on phasing out fossil fuels, increasing renewable energy, and addressing non-carbon-dioxide emissions such as methane.

On adaptation, the Presidency calls for all countries to have National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) by 2025 and emphasizes the need for scaling up adaptation finance. In addition, COP29 encourages global financial institutions and the private sector to increase climate finance and foster investment in green innovation.

The summit aims to provide platforms to mobilise business participation and enhance transparency in investment decisions to support climate action.

Agenda

November 12–13: world leaders gather to discuss the Paris Agreement and enhance climate action ambitions, including a summit on methane reduction co-hosted by the US and China

November 14: focus on finance and trade, launching the Baku Initiative for Climate Finance to support global investments in climate resilience. The agenda will then address energy and peace, examining the links between energy use, conflict, and human security

November 16:  Digitalization Day – discussion of sustainable digital practices

November 18-19: Human Development Day – the roles of youth, health, and education in climate resilience; food and water security, focusing on challenges related to agriculture and water resources; urbanisation, transport, and tourism as important aspects of climate solutions including COP’s inaugural Tourism Day promoting sustainable practices

November 21: consideration of indigenous knowledge, gender equality, and biodiversity

November 22: negotiations to finalise commitments for COP29