Interface Africa’s Post

COP29 Azerbaijan is approaching! 📅 #Hydrogen is a key topic in UNIDO's Event Calendar. ✅ Scaling up the production and deployment of #lowemission hydrogen and its derivatives is essential to accelerate the global clean #energytransition, limit temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and achieve #SDG7’s goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. ✅ At COP29, UNIDO will highlight the various initiatives of The Global Programme for Hydrogen in Industry, aimed at promoting economic opportunities while supporting just and equitable transitions. 🎯 In #Baku, our team (Petra, Heng, Smeeta, Jan, Maria, Venkat, Alvin Tepo, Eva) will be hosting several events at the UNIDO pavilion and connecting with leaders in #hydrogen and #cleanenergy! ➡ If you're attending #COP29 , be sure to check our event calendar and stay tuned for updates. 🤝 With #UNFCCC, Women In Green Hydrogen, Hydrogen Council, H2-diplo - Decarbonization Diplomacy, International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association, International Hydrogen Energy Centre, and other esteemed partners. ❗Please note, that in order to access our events, visitors require blue zone badges. ❇ #UNIDOatCOP #ClimateAction #sustainabledevelopment #cleanhydrogen #UNIDOhydrogen

A huge thank you to Kahlil Edwin, Project Lead for COP29 Azerbaijan, for his insightful presentation during our todays EIC (Energy Industries Council) session on the road to COP29, taking place in just over 50 days time. Taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, it’s clear that this COP will continue to shape the future of global energy and climate action. My Key Takeaways from Kahlils presentation: 🔹 Azerbaijan has a strong commitment to achieve net zero by 2050, whilst aiding industrial decabonisation. 🔹 International collaboration at COP29 is essential to achieving deep, sustained emission reductions. 🔹 COP29, the ‘Finance COP’ will focus on areas such as finance, energy, and innovation, which will have a profound impact on global energy supply chains. 🔹 The Green Zone will once again be a hub for businesses, governments, and innovators to share solutions for a zero-carbon future. If you'd like to receive a copy of today's presentation, feel free to send me a message. #COP29 #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #ClimateAction #GlobalCollaboration

It is the eve of COP29. There have been concerns expressed about the location of the 2024 edition and some of the leading personalities organizing this event. In the attached article, I examine some of the issues and conclude that there maybe more potential of positives than negatives about Azerbaijan being the host. Hopefully, in the coming days, the focus will be on the positives. My thoughts are split into 2 parts: + "The dilemma about the Trilemma" argues the case that every region of the planet has its own Energy Trilemma. No common Trilemma means a slow or no Energy Transition. + "Investing in coal-fired power plants is smarter than you think" presents a counter-intuitive case for coal. I believe that this could be a scenario that will allow Asia to achieve formidable economic growth rates and enjoy affordable energy independence in the future without sacrificing long term Sustainability priorities. My thoughts are about simpler, inclusive, affordable and actionable Energy Transition pathways for emerging economies. Hope you enjoy the read. #COP29 #KishoreMahbubani #energytrilemma @Kishore Mahbubani

Hats off to Dr Kenneth Pereira, Managing Director of Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad, for offering a thought-provoking take on the upcoming COP29 and the role of Azerbaijan as host. Dr Kenneth dives deep into the complexities of global energy needs and offers some refreshing viewpoints on sustainable progress in emerging economies. Here’s a snapshot of Kenneth’s insights: ⚖️ The Dilemma about the Trilemma: Every region faces its unique Energy Trilemma, challenging the idea of a “one-size-fits-all” approach to Energy Transition 🔋 Investing in coal-fired power plants: A counter-intuitive argument for coal in Asia’s energy mix, presenting a scenario where affordable energy supports robust economic growth while respecting long-term sustainability goals His ideas call for a practical, inclusive path to energy transition that meets diverse regional needs. Dive in to read more!

World’s Largest Oil and Gas Networking Event About to Start! “Grab your last minute flight ticket to the COP party in Azerbajan. It’s a bargain! Only costs 1.4 tonnes of CO2 from London and a very modest 3.8 tonnes from New York! Don’t worry though, your home solar array should save that much in carbon emissions by 2035. In a few days time you too could be sipping free glasses of chardonnnay with 50,000 other lucky guests. While you’re kicking back don’t miss your chance to sign a new oil deal – just drop a line to our CEO and we will get straight back to you! Have fun in sunny Baku!” Yes! Its that time again. COP28 starts on Monday! Another COP car crash is firmly on the cards as the Chief Executive of the UN climate change event is caught on camera promoting deals to sell more oil and gas. Disgusting as this revelation is, it is not unsurprising. Similar issues were revealed at COP28. The idiocy is in the COP process. For crying out loud when will someone in the United Nations get a grip and either bin the COP process or wildly reform it. There have been 28 COPs, soon to be 29, and what has happened since the first one – we have actually increased carbon emissions 60% since COP1 in 1995 and they are still going up! The COP process is actually preventing progress while at the same time ensuring 200,000 tonnes of flight emissions are delivered directly into the atmosphere at high altitude where they can be most effective in driving warming. We have tried this 28 times, and it has not worked. The Paris Accord is the best result so far and it is weak and ineffective. Emissions are still rising nearly ten years later. 2050 was always a ridiculously late target for net zero for well financed stable developed nations and major international corporations. Our insistence on talking about 2050 net zero is not just greenwash it is utter “hogwash”. Let’s get a grip! Top of today's to-do list 1) fire COP29's chief Elnur Soltanov today; 2) ban fossil fuel negotiators from attending COP29... In the future ensure COPs are not given again to petrostates and reduce the number of representatives from each country to 3 (saving 199,000 tonnes of emissions on flights and keeping the cork in 50,000 bottles of chardonnay). #cop29 #parisagreement #netzero2050 #netzero2030 #baku #azerbajan #carbonemissions The Climate Party BBC News ITV Skynewsuk.com https://lnkd.in/eetJr_5F

Today marks the commencement of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the nation officially assuming the COP presidency from the UAE. This significant event brings together representatives from nearly 200 countries, including over 70,000 participants, among them heads of state, business leaders, and climate experts. Azerbaijan’s leadership in this global forum is underscored by its ambitious climate initiatives: - Development of 10 GW in renewable energy projects, positioning the country as a green energy hub between Europe and Asia. - Investments in renewable energy to support regional and global energy transitions. - Collaborations with international organizations to enhance climate adaptation and resilience. COP29 is expected to focus on key deliverables: - The Global Stocktake, assessing progress on Paris Agreement goals. - Operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund to support vulnerable nations. - Advancing climate finance to meet the projected $2.4 trillion annual need by 2030. Hosting COP29 underscores Azerbaijan’s growing influence on the global stage, demonstrating its capacity to lead critical conversations on balancing energy security with sustainability. #COP29 #Baku2024 #GlobalLeadership #ClimateAction

The #Baku Finance Goal sets new global target to channel $1.3 trillion of climate #finance to developing countries by 2035 in significant uplift. This includes a new core finance goal of $300 billion that triples the previous $100 billion target. Breakthroughs on the Baku Finance Goal and UN carbon markets defy expectations following year of intensive multilateral diplomacy led by Azerbaijani COP29 Presidency. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/eMdtGY6K Baker Hughes played a pivotal role in #COP29, showcasing its commitment to driving the #energy #transition and supporting global climate goals. As a leader in energy #technology, the company actively participated in key discussions and initiatives aimed at reducing #carbon #emissions and promoting #sustainable solutions. During COP29, Baker Hughes announced groundbreaking collaborations and technology deployments focused on emissions reduction, energy #efficiency, and #renewable energy integration. Notably, the company presented #innovative solutions in carbon capture, #utilization, and storage (CCUS) and highlighted its advancements in #hydrogen technologies, reinforcing its role as a partner in #decarbonizing the energy sector. By taking an active role in #COP29, Baker Hughes demonstrated its leadership in shaping a more sustainable future and solidified its position as a key player in the global energy #transition. #COP29Azerbaijan #COP29 #Sustainability #ClimateAction #EnergyTransition #BakerHughes #WeAreBakerHughes #Azerbaijan #Baku

This is the first time, #COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev lays out his vision for this years climate conference in his opinion piece for the Guardian. What's in it? 1️⃣ The big decision, the New Finance Goal scheduled for COP29 receives little space: He highlights a decision on the NCQG can rebuild trust to then be “reconfirmed through the next two Cops” - interesting take 2️⃣ Its very broad: Electric vehicle usage & coal electricity soared in 2023 in the context of conflict without elaborating on the link though. Interesting to note, that a focus on coal is convenient for a gas expander. Watch out how "conflicts" will shape rhetoric. 3️⃣ Babayev makes a few commitments by Azerbaijan ▶️Join Global Methane Pledge ▶️Move from fossil exports to RE (with foreign investment) ▶️Boost solar in post conflict zones (see 4️⃣ ) No mention of Azerbaijans massive fossil fuel expansion plans though 4️⃣ Many might find it hard to get behind a positive solar story in "post-conflict zones" knowing the military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh & the surrounding areas, Azerbaijan de facto forced over 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to flee to Armenia (https://lnkd.in/gadHgFBR) (see e.g.https://https://lnkd.in/g3qz28AV

At #COP29 Azerbaijan plans to advocate for a sixfold increase in global battery storage, the expansion of electric grids, and reductions in methane #emissions. However, Azerbaijan’s COP29 lead and deputy energy minister, Elnur Soltanov, was recently recorded discussing #fossilfuel investments with someone posing as an investor. Additionally, COP29 will scale back on its broader commitment to move away from fossil fuels, a step back from the transition targets set in the 2023 Dubai agreement. The decision to host COP29 in Baku has been met with significant criticism from the outset. Azerbaijan is the world’s 28th largest #oil and #gas producer, with fossil fuels comprising 90% of its exports. The country has also conducted a campaign of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, forcibly displacing the entire Armenian population from the region. This year’s conference, called the "Finance COP," will focus on increasing #climate funding commitments to support the #energy transitions and climate resilience of poorer countries. Since 2009, the $100 billion annual climate finance target has rarely been met, and much more funding is now necessary, especially to address climate-induced “loss and damage.” A central goal of COP29 is also to increase private sector engagement, with expectations for new partnerships to support #renewable energy initiatives. While last year’s COP established a fund for unavoidable climate damages in vulnerable countries, the initial $700 million commitment is far below projected needs, which are expected to reach $580 billion by 2030. Can we expect positive developments to come out of this year's COP or not - what do you think?