🌍 #COP29 is less than a month away! What are the key negotiation items on the agenda, and where do the political fault lines lie?
Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting on these critical questions alongside my fellow PhD candidates, Robert Bergsvik and Emilie Broek van de Laar, from the Environmental Policy group at Wageningen University & Research, to over 50 climate change experts from UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme).
Key highlights from our presentations:
#Mitigation (presented by me):
The next round of #NDCs, to be submitted by early 2025, will be high on the political agenda at COP29. Some countries will push for stronger language on requiring alignment of NDCs with the 1.5 degree goal. But what does alignment to 1.5 mean in the absence of multilateral agreements over burden sharing? With a ‘crisis of trust’ stemming from unequal results in meeting past mitigation and finance promises, it is all the more important for the presidency to deliver on its COP29 slogan: ‘In solidarity for a green world’.
#Adaptation (presented by Emilie Broek van de Laar):
With the adoption of the #GlobalGoalonAdaptation at COP28, COP29 will focus on formulating indicators to track progress. These indicators could shape which adaptation actions attract the most attention—and funding. An expert group is currently developing an overview of possible indicators, and COP29 will provide further guidance on how to select suitable ones. A key question is whether finance for adaptation will also be included in these discussions.
#ClimateFinance and #LossAndDamage (presented by Robert Bergsvik):
COP29 is set to deliver a #NewCollectiveQuantifiedGoal on climate finance. While the headline number will grab attention, the details of what counts as climate finance are equally important. Without clear definitions, there’s a risk that existing development aid will simply be rebranded as climate finance. Another key debate is whether finance for loss and damage will be part of this goal. Opinions also differ on how much the private sector should be involved, such as through insurance mechanisms to address loss and damage.
We also discussed the pivotal role #cities and multi-levelclimate action will play at COP29. On November 20, co-hosted by the COP29 presidency, UN-Habitat and other partners, the third Ministerial Meeting on Urbanisation and Climate Change will take place. Moreover, the presidency has spearheaded a ‘Multisectoral Actions Pathway (MAP) Declaration for Resilient and Healthy Cities’, and negotiators will also review progress on the mitigation work programme, whose 2024 focus was on ‘Cities: buildings and urban systems’.
A huge thank you to Martine D. and the UN-Habitat team for organizing this session and for hosting us!
