COP29 Insight

COP29 UN Climate Change Conference is currently under way in Baku – an agenda setting event with a significant media spotlight.

Here, at PA Mediapoint, we are committed in covering this key conference, with Rebecca Speare-Cole heading to Azerbaijan next week for the second week of decision making.

You can sign up to our free daily COP29 briefing here.

In this week's newsletter, we take a look at the latest stories from Baku.

Top stories

• Tensions have erupted at the UN climate conference as Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev accused France of “brutally” suppressing climate change concerns in its overseas territories, prompting the country’s climate envoy to skip the summit over the “unacceptable” remarks. Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus slammed rich nations for their impact on the planet and Argentina has reportedly withdrawn its negotiators from Cop29 in a move that fuels concerns over the stability of the Paris Agreement, after Donald Trump’s US election victory.
• UN-appointed experts released a report saying a total of one trillion US dollars needs to be flowing into developing countries each year by 2030, bar China, to meet the Paris Agreement goals. The Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance also warned that wealthy countries must more than double the amount of climate finance paid from taxpayers’ money annually by the end of the decade. To meet their share of the one trillion US dollars, the group said that multilateral banks will need to triple financial flows to developing nations by 2030 – to around 250 to 300 billion US dollars.

Latest from Baku

– Upcoming Cop30 host Brazil revealed the full details of its new climate action plan (NDC), which aims to cut emissions between 59% and 67% from 2005 levels by 2035, mostly by relying on its carbon-storing forests.

– The issue of climate-damaging vapour trails from jet planes will be discussed at Cop29, with experts saying the impact could be eliminated for just a few pounds per flight by tweaking flight paths.

– ExxonMobil chief executive Darren Woods said he wants Donald Trump to stay in the Paris Agreement.

– Scotland’s bishops and its national poet Kathleen Jamie are calling for the country’s government to take action on fossil fuels.

Diary

Timings: UK/Azerbaijan

This afternoon:

Thursday’s theme: Finance, Investment and Trade

8:30/12:30: WWF International press conference: Public finance, private finance and climate change

9:15/13:15: Cop29 Presidency press conference

9:15/13:15: UNFCCC: High-Level Side Event on Climate Finance Needs of Developing Countries

10:00/14:00: European Union press conference

12:00/16:00: High‐level event: Private sector engagement in implementing the NDCs including through Article 6

13:30/17:30: UNHCR: Launch of the Refugees for Climate Action Network by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James

Tomorrow morning:

Friday’s theme: Energy / Peace, Relief and Recovery.

06:00/10:00: High-level Panel on Climate and Peace: Enabling joint action to leave no one behind

06:00/10:00: UNFCCC event: Thematic Event on Accelerating Global Climate Action through Reliable Renewable Energy Substitution

07:00/11:00: AOSIS: Alliance of Small Island States & Least Developed Countries Chairs Press Conference

Full UNFCCC programme can be found here.

Quote of the day

“As we move forward, let us embrace the challenge of Cop29 with hope and determination, fostering a sustainable future for all. Together, we can answer the call for justice and stewardship of our planet.”

Scotland’s bishops

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