Rene Kaam’s Post

In recent years, COP summits have increasingly been hosted in Asia and the Middle East, bringing valuable regional representation to the global climate conversation. Hosting COP allows these countries to address unique climate challenges while promoting energy diversification and renewable energy adoption. Additionally, these summits drive economic and social benefits, such as boosting tourism, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange, while raising local awareness and sparking grassroots movements. It’s inspiring to witness the rise of regional climate leadership, with countries in these areas taking significant steps forward. A key outcome of hosting is also the attraction of green investments and partnerships, which help stimulate economies, create jobs, and support technological advancements in climate resilience. Apart from large-scale collaborations, there are several effective, targeted partnerships worth noting. These include Mangroves for the Future (MFF – Asia-Pacific), Cool Roofs Initiative (Telangana, India), Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities Asia (Netherlands with cities like Chennai in India, Khulna in Bangladesh, and Semarang in Indonesia), Green Power for Mobile, the Farm to Market Alliance (smallholder farmers in Africa), the Medellin Green Corridors Project (Colombia), Coral Gardeners (community-led conservation in French Polynesia), and many others. #COP #UNFCCC #Climatetracker #WRI #MangroveBreakthrough #CoolRoofPolicy #FMO #AIIB #IABR #GCECA #FtMA #IFC #Biodiversity #CoralGardener #AdoptACoral

What’s at Stake for Kenya at the COP29 Summit? 🌍 As COP29 Azerbaijan approaches, #Kenya stands at a pivotal moment. The country is not only on the front lines of #climate #change impacts, such as droughts, floods, and food insecurity, but also at the heart of #Africa’s #resilience and #innovation. Kenya’s ambitious vision for #sustainable #development and #green #transformation has already set a powerful example, highlighting how #climate #action can drive prosperity and equity. However, for Kenya to truly lead the way, it’s clear that we still need to break down silos. Climate change doesn’t recognize organizational or sectoral boundaries, and our response can’t either. Progress requires collective action: from local #communities to #government bodies, private enterprises to #nonprofit organizations. Part of the solution lies in uniting these diverse voices and #resources, so that together, we can create comprehensive, scalable solutions for the #future. At Quercus Group, we’re inspired to keep building these connections. We’re excited to continue #engaging #stakeholders across Kenya’s sustainability landscape and beyond, fostering #collaboration that transcends individual agendas to achieve lasting #impact. Kenya’s challenges are immense, but so are its #opportunities. #Together, we can make a difference – imagining, innovating, and #acting as one. Let’s stay connected and build a sustainable future, for Kenya and for our #planet. 🌱 #COP29 #SustainableKenya #ClimateAction #QuercusGroup #I4WASH mariam njoroge #ImagineWhatWeCanDoTogether

"Voices from the global south" Decolonization and for Greener Future. I am truly delighted to be a speaker @Decolonization and Greener Future* panel at the NGO Pavilion during COP29 Azerbaijan. Today, we have a unique opportunity to reflect on the intersection of environmental justice, decolonization, and sustainable development. Speaking about the Decolonization Movement in Kenya, specifically focusing on the successful struggle against the Lamu Coal Plant in 2019. This victory, led by communities and activists from all walks of life, exemplifies the power of collective action in challenging harmful projects that prioritize profits over people and the environment. The Lamu Coal Plant, which threatened to exacerbate climate change, destroy ecosystems, and undermine the livelihoods of local communities, was stopped through the tireless efforts of the people, supported by movements like 350 Power Shift Kenya and grassroots organizations. This victory not only represents a turning point for Kenya, but it also serves as a powerful success story that can inspire similar movements across the globe, especially in the fight for cleaner, more just futures. The struggle against the Lamu Coal Plant was a testament to the power of solidarity, grassroots organizing, and the unyielding commitment to environmental and social justice. It reminds us that decolonization is not only about dismantling historical injustices, but also about building equitable, sustainable futures for all. As we gather at COP29 Azerbaijan, let’s draw inspiration from this example and commit to replicating it worldwide. Let’s work together to shift power, challenge harmful development, and ensure that a greener, more just future is within reach for every community, everywhere. This panel, organized by Baku Initiative, is an important moment for collaboration and reflection on how we can forge pathways toward a sustainable, equitable world for future generations. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this critical conversation. Abbas AbbasovParvana ValiyevaCHRP Lilian KigwaDare AkogunZoë LenkiewiczAnna GuyerGulshan Akhundova #COP29 #Decolonization #350PowerShift #EnvironmentalJustice #LamuCoalPlant #GreenerFuture ABOS -AFRICA

📣 HAPPENING TODAY: COP29 Azerbaijan Event on Attracting Investments to Accelerate Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration When: 19th November, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Where: Africa Pavillion, Blue Zone Did you know that over 60% of Africa’s ecosystems are degraded and despite the growth of agriculture, around 140 million Africans face food insecurity, made worse by climate and economic shocks, yet Africa has the largest restoration opportunity of any continent? It has more than 700 million hectares of degraded landscapes with the potential to be brought under restoration, seeing the recovery of degraded standing forests and restoration of forests to suitable areas where they have been lost.   Join our session to engage in discussions on the power of forest landscape restoration in Africa! 🌲🌳🌿At this important event, we will explore how forest landscape can drive food and income security, restore biodiversity, and build climate resilience, while addressing the crucial question: how do we unlock the flow of finance to scale FLR efforts in Africa? 🌍 Not in Baku, Azerbaijan? No worries! You can also join the vent via the live stream options in the following languages: English 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eWdmKbFR French 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gSRVCpe7 __________ The CARE-WWF Alliance works to make equitable restoration a reality on the ground in Africa. Working side-by-side with communities, the Alliance leverages complementary skills, competencies, and scale to strengthen ecosystems, support the women who depend on them and help build a future where people and nature thrive. #CO29 #PayUp #CAREatCOP #EcosystemRestoration

Wrapping up COP29 Azerbaijan, I had the honor of hosting the #MarrakechPartnership Special Event: Informality Roundtable, a follow-up to the dialogue I led at the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York. This event focused on the actions being taken by people living in urban informality, showcasing the incredible efforts of stakeholders from the private sector, the Marrakesh Partnership itself, and other partners working to empower these communities. We discussed how these efforts can be scaled, with a focus on innovative approaches, such as collaboration with the insurance sector, and how we can engage leaders from both the formal and informal sectors to drive lasting change for millions living in informal settlements. During COP29’s flagship High-Level Gender Day event, I participated in a panel discussion on the importance of integrating #GenderEquality into climate solutions, an area that is vital to achieving the ambitious climate and biodiversity goals. The event underscored the need for continued advocacy for gender-responsive climate action, and I was honored to contribute to this important conversation. I also had the privilege of sharing closing remarks at the Marrakech Partnership Action Event on #Oceans and Coastal Zones, where we launched the Coastal Tourism Breakthrough. This event demonstrated the power of Non-State Actors as unique drivers of change in sectors such as conservation, shipping, energy, and food. We emphasized the critical role ocean-based solutions play in building resilient economies and societies. At the #Mangrove Breakthrough event, co-hosted by the Mangrove Alliance for Climate and the Global Mangroves Alliance, we reported on the progress made since COP28 UAE in advancing mangrove restoration and protection. We discussed the transformative impact of partnerships that bring together civil society, governments, Indigenous communities, and the private sector, highlighting how collective action and synergies can create tangible climate benefits. Finally, we marked the official closing of the Global Climate Action Agenda with the Champions for Change event. It was a moment of reflection on the progress made, and I was honored to share the stage with my close allies and supporters throughout my tenure as High-Level Climate Champions. The momentum we've built here at COP29 in Baku is powerful, and we remain united in our vision for a resilient, nature-positive future. Together, we will continue to advance the work needed to ensure climate and biodiversity action are intertwined in the fight for a sustainable world. #COP29Azerbaijan #NaturePositive #ClimateAction #Sustainability #InclusiveClimateAction #GenderEquality #RaceToZero #MangroveBreakthrough

Mongabay News: COP16: ‘A fund unlike any other’ will pay tropical nations to save forests 🍄For years now, the world’s wealthiest nations have pledged billions to tropical nations to help them afford to conserve their native forests — an effort that benefits the entire world, especially for the carbon storage those tropical forests provide, as the climate crisis deepens. 🍄But those investment promises by donors have again and again failed to fully materialize. Today, the total funding shortfall for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is in the trillions of dollars. 🍄This week, a new funding mechanism which is about to launch was greeted with great fanfare at the COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia. TFFF, the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, is designed to be a fund unlike any other. 🍄The fund’s innovative design is structured to deliver $4 billion year-after-year to tropical nations to incentivize those countries to keep their native forests standing. The fund’s manager will be independent of governments and investors, and may involve Indigenous groups and local communities to help manage intact tropical forests #Cop16 #biodiversity #conservation #tropics More:👇 https://lnkd.in/dd6m_5Wc

Bhutan upheld its COP15 pledge from 2015 to remain carbon neutral. Bhutan is the only country in the Asia-Pacific Region with a negative carbon footprint. That means it absorbs more CO2 than it produces. Banning log exports and creating constitutional laws that state 60% of its land must be covered with trees at all times, Bhutan exceeded those expectations by 10%. Bhutan absorbs around 7 million tons of CO2 annually while only producing around 2 million tons. Bhutan has created a global COP model for all nations to follow successfully. Wouldn’t you like to see these strategies implemented globally? United Nations ESCAP clip: https://lnkd.in/gEapVvKQ

The ongoing COP29 conference has united global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address the critical issue of climate change. Emphasizing sustainable development, renewable energy, and climate resilience is pivotal for paving the way towards a more environmentally friendly future. The efforts of COP29 are commendable in several key areas: - Facilitating international collaboration on climate initiatives - Promoting sustainable development strategies - Enhancing support for climate adaptation and resilience efforts Taste of Africa, as a platform, is dedicated to motivating over 25 million eco-conscious Africans to embrace sustainable practices. Our objectives align closely with COP29's mission through various initiatives: 1. Sustainable Agriculture: Advocating for regenerative farming, minimizing food wastage, and showcasing eco-conscious agricultural techniques. 2. Clean Energy: Spotlighting renewable energy options, energy-efficient cooking methods, and innovative energy solutions. 3. Climate Advocacy: Educating communities on climate change impacts, reducing carbon footprints, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. 4. Community Empowerment: Enabling African societies to embrace eco-friendly behaviors, minimize waste, and preserve natural resources. Taste of Africa aims to make a significant impact by: - Lowering carbon emissions by 10% through sustainable cooking approaches - Boosting renewable energy adoption by 4% in African households - Encouraging sustainable farming practices among 30% of African farmers - Inspiring 50% of African youth to embrace eco-conscious lifestyles Together, these endeavors signify a collective stride towards a greener and more sustainable future for Africa and beyond. Let's unite for a sustainable Africa! #TasteOfAfrica #COP29 #GreenerFuture #EcoConscious #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Africa

🌍 ENERGIES 2050 at the COP29 Azerbaijan 🌍 We are delighted to invite you to a side event we are organizing as part of COP29 Azerbaijan on the theme of “Innovating for decarbonation to build resilient and sustainable areas in the face of climate change” (event in French). Registration link : https://lnkd.in/e-WkpuWM   This side event is organized by ENERGIES 2050 in collaboration with le Centre International de Recherche et de Renforcement de Capacités (CI2RC), l'Ecole Supérieure de Technologie d'Essaouira - Université Cadi Ayyad, l'Université Cadi Ayyad of Marrakech and the Réseau Climat & Développement (RC&D). This event aims to present the challenges of decarbonizing territories, which is crucial to mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly in developing countries, where populations are often the most vulnerable. By adopting innovative and sustainable solutions, these territories can not only reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but also strengthen their resilience in the face of energy and environmental crises. However, major challenges such as access to financing, insufficient infrastructure and a just transition for local communities need to be overcome.  The event aims to forge links between universities, research institutions, the creation of jobs, particularly for young people, and the promotion of innovative environmental businesses, as well as the various public and private players involved in the fight against climate change in the French-speaking world. Practical information: 🗓 Tuesday, November 12, 2024 🕙 10:00 am - 11:00 am (Baku time - UTC +4) 📍 Pavillon de la Francophonie, COP29 🇫🇷 Event in French 🔗 Registration link to participate in person or online: https://lnkd.in/e-WkpuWM (After the event, the recording of the session will be available via the registration link) Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable - IFDD Médiaterre Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) ONU Climat Afrimag Ecomnews Afrique #COP29 #COP29Azerbaijan #OIF #francophonie #ifdd #climatechange #CCNUCC #climat #ActionClimat #changementclimatique #epavillon #Coopération #décarbonation #Développement

The Journey of #ABCofSustainability: A Milestone Achieved, A New Beginning Awaits 🌍 Today, I proudly conclude the ABC of Sustainability series—a journey that spanned 26 days, covering essential aspects of sustainability, one letter at a time. From Awareness to Zero Waste, each day unfolded a new dimension of our collective responsibility to foster a sustainable future. 🌱✨ The journey was not just about information, but transformation. Each post carried stories, facts, and solutions that highlighted the urgent need for action, particularly for Pakistan and other countries in the Global South, deeply affected by climate change. 🔍 What did we accomplish? Sparked meaningful conversations globally. Shed light on the specific challenges and solutions for Pakistan and KP province. Showcased real-world data to encourage more informed decisions and actions. Connected with like-minded climate advocates, activists, and organizations across the world. This journey made me reflect deeply on how each of us, no matter where we are, has a role to play in shaping a better tomorrow. I am immensely grateful for the support and engagement from my connections, the global community, and everyone who has been a part of this series. 🌎 But this is only the beginning! The next series is on the horizon—more focused, more action-driven. Stay tuned for what's coming next because the journey to sustainability never truly ends. Together, we can create lasting change. Let’s continue to advocate, act, and empower for the sake of our planet and future generations. 🌍✨ #Sustainability #ClimateAction #YouthForClimate #GlobalSouth #UNSDGs #ClimateChange #COP29 #SustainableDevelopment #PakistanYouthForClimate #ClimateAdvocate UN Environment Programme World Wildlife Fund UNDP Pakistan Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe UNEP-WCMC UNFCCC-WGEO Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC) MENA and SA Youth4Climate Pakistan COP29 Azerbaijan FAO Nustainable