2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29)

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) is set to take place in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. This pivotal event marks a crucial moment in the global fight against climate change, as nations continue to grapple with the environmental challenges that define our era.

The conference will include several critical meetings:

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29).
The 19th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 19).
The sixth meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 6).

2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29)

Together, these sessions will focus on completing the first enhanced transparency framework and establishing a new collective quantified goal on finance, alongside other key issues. The 61st sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 61) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 61) will also convene to address various technical and implementation challenges.

In the lead-up to this conference, on 21 March 2024, a letter was jointly issued by the COP 28 UAE Presidency, the COP 29 Azerbaijani Presidency, and the COP 30 Brazilian Presidency. This letter introduced the ‘Roadmap to Mission 1.5°C,’ a strategic framework designed to significantly boost international cooperation. It aims to create an enabling environment for the next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which are essential in limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as per the Paris Agreement.

The roadmap outlines an ambitious agenda for this “critical decade,” as nations work to scale up climate action and implementation. With 2025 approaching—the year when countries are expected to submit the next round of NDCs—ensuring these contributions are robust enough to meet the 1.5°C target is paramount.

To facilitate these efforts, the COP Presidencies Troika has committed to organizing a series of high-level political discussions aimed at identifying and overcoming obstacles to NDC development. These gatherings will take place at notable international forums, including:

The 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Germany.
The 60th sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SBs).
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
A special session at the opening of COP 29.

At these meetings, the focus will be on assessing the “quantity and quality of support” needed to ensure that NDCs are not only achievable but also aligned with just climate transitions—pathways that emphasize fairness and inclusivity as countries work toward the 1.5°C goal. Collaboration with influential platforms like the G20 will also be vital, as they possess the resources and influence to drive forward ambitious NDC development on a global scale.

On 17 July 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and President Designate of COP 29, shared his vision for the upcoming conference. His letter, titled ‘In Solidarity for a Green World,’ highlights two fundamental pillars: enhancing ambition and enabling action. These pillars are mutually reinforcing, driving both global commitments and tangible climate action.

The letter also includes a detailed annex of key COP 29 events, thematic days, and significant calendar moments leading up to the conference. These elements are designed to guide the international community as they prepare for what could be a watershed moment in the ongoing global climate negotiations.

As the world prepares for COP 29, the urgency of addressing climate change has never been more apparent. The conference represents an opportunity for world leaders, scientists, activists, and other stakeholders to come together, not just to discuss the planet’s future but to take concrete steps toward securing it.

With global temperatures rising and the impacts of climate change becoming more severe, Baku 2024 could well be the turning point in humanity’s fight to safeguard the Earth for future generations.

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