Last year, I attended the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan. I had an opportunity to learn how negotiations at the Conference of Parties (COP) are navigated leading up to the ultimate decisions for the whole globe. COPs are held annually with different themes and focus, notwithstanding the various subsequent meetings at global, regional, and national levels that lead up to major COP event. Although there was no official overarching theme, COP 29 was considered a “Finance COP” due to its intense focus on climate finance.
Just to note, this was my first ever COP attendance and I had several interesting lessons to share.
Who holds the power in decision-making at the COPs? Who takes center stage?
The COP Presidency
With each COP, the country hosting the COP takes on the Presidency. For COP29, it was Azerbaijan. The Presidency plays a very crucial role in setting the agenda, facilitating negotiations, and ensuring the smooth running of the conference. Although the presidency often has a vision or priority they want to push, influencing the direction of the talks, nonetheless they must remain neutral and facilitate consensus among all parties.
The UNFCCC Secretariat
The UNFCCC secretariat provides crucial support to the COP process organising the conference, providing logistical support, and helping to implement the decisions made. They too facilitate negotiations ensuring that all parties have a voice.
Parties (Countries)
The core of the COP are the Parties – the countries that have signed the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. Parties (countries) are the ultimate decision-makers. They negotiate, agree on texts, and make commitments.Parties include developed countries, developing countries, small island nations and others, each with their own interests and priorities.Some countries take a more prominent role due to their size, economic influence, or climate leadership.
Negotiators
Annually, each country sends a team of negotiators to the COP referred to as the ‘national delegation’. These are the individuals (group of individuals) who work behind the scenes, hammering out the details of agreements. They are experts in their fields and play a crucial role in shaping the final decisions. These can influence the process by providing information, lobbying for certain outcomes, and raising public awareness on behalf of their governments.
Observers.
At each COP, there are a wide range of observers in attendance such as NGOs (environmental groups, advocacy organizations), Businesses, Scientists, Indigenous groups and Youth-led organizations.
Key Individuals
Since the inception of COPs, particular individuals often take center stage due to their influence and expertise:
- UN Climate Chief: The head of the UNFCCC secretariat plays a key role in guiding the process.
- Heads of State/Governments: Their presence can add political weight and momentum to the talks.
- Ministers: Environment ministers or other relevant ministers lead their country’s delegations.
- Experts and Advocates: Renowned scientists, economists, and climate activists can influence the debate and public opinion.
Key Highlights and Lessons from COP29
Who Took Center Stage at COP29?
Although COPs are a collective effort with many actors contributing to the process, At COP29, the Presidency took center stage in organizing and guiding the conference. They emphasized climate finance as a key theme. However, the real power lay with the Parties and countries made the ultimate decisions on tripling climate finance, operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund and setting a new climate finance goal. Conclusively, the success of COP29 also relied heavily on the work of negotiators, the UNFCCC secretariat, and the influence of various observers. Key individuals such as the UN Climate Chief and leading figures from various countries also played very critical and fundamental roles.
Key Lessons
Whilst there are several activities going on in the Blue and Green Zones at the various pavilions, it is highly likely that decisions are made without others really knowing what is going on, especially if one is not keenly following. Programs are heavily loaded and at times it is difficult for individuals to follow, nonetheless, COP29 was well organized, and security was excellent.
Who took the lead in showcasing the innovation and living up to the ‘Climate Action’ goal at COP29?
During the one week of my COP29 participation, I vehemently went through many pavilions to learn from the various displays of innovations with regards to “Climate Action”. True to what would be expected by many people, I witnessed the seriousness with which “China Pavillion” lived up to the true “Green Innovations” for climate action through various displays of innovations in the food systems, renewable energy, recycling, water labeling among others. All the seats at the China Pavillion were a green innovation demonstrating how we could utilize resources sustainably through our eco-friendly environmental stewardship to drive climate action. I did pass through the ‘China Pavillion” just to see whether it was a once-off showcasing but to my surprise, it seemed like a way of life.
This brought me to the realization that if we have to reduce our GHG emissions, we have to actualize green innovations that will enable us to reduce our carbon footprints. While most pavilions had other innovations displayed, China Pavilion outdid every other pavilion in the case of green innovations and technologies
Lessons from Side Events at COP29
COP29’S Side event: From Sea to Strategy
On 18th November 2024, I facilitated a side event: From Sea to Strategy: Integrating Ocean-Based Measures into Nationally Determined Contributions. The panelists at this event came from across Africa and Europe and indicated that people who live beside seas, lakes, rivers, and other water sources are more prone to climate-induced risks and are highly vulnerable. The discussion centered around how ecosystem-based adaptation including ocean-based adaptation reduces climate risks and provides co-benefits.
The panelists highlighted the critical gaps and challenges countries face in integrating and implementing ocean-based measures in their NDCs. The gaps faced particularly in land-locked countries such as Sudan and Zambia include data, science, and capacity building. Interestingly, the panelists discussed some of the opportunities and best practices available to overcome the said challenges such as fostering regional cooperation. Interestingly, the panelists emphasized that a collaborative approach is critical and indicated that local coastal communities among other stakeholders play a vital role in creating and implementing NDCs and developing the best practices.
IGAD Pavillion side event at COP29
On 21st November, I attended a side event at IGAD Pavillion-themed: Strengthening Gender-responsive Climate Policy and Action through Vulnerability Hotspot Mapping and Implementation of Gender Action Plan in Africa.
The panelists emphasized the significance of gender-responsive climate policies and action in meeting global climate targets. The panelists also highlighted the role of vulnerability hotspot mapping and Gender Action Plans (GAPs) in bridging gaps between policy and action. Further, the panelists highlighted the various climate vulnerabilities exacerbated by gender inequities such as access to resources, decision-making power, and cultural norms. They also provided country-specific case studies on other regions in Africa by gendered impacts. The panelists urged the importance of vulnerability hotspot mapping as a tool to identify regions and communities most at risk and this could be upscaled to other countries within the African continent.
Similarly, the panelists emphasized the significance of gender-disaggregated data to identify and prioritize areas where women are most vulnerable. Likewise, the panelists highlighted the need to integrate the GAPs into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This is to ensure that climate actions are equitable and inclusive. Moreover, the panelists also attributed to the issue of strengthening policy frameworks by mainstreaming gender-responsive climate policies at local, national, and regional levels. This could also be implemented through capacity building and stakeholder involvement through women’s organizations, policymakers and researchers.
Why is Climate Finance Critical at the Moment
Despite the pledge to triple climate finance to $300 billion annually by 2035, COP29 fell short of expectations for developing countries – especially for Africa, where urgent climate action remains underfunded and progress is slow.
What do the COP29 decisions mean for Africa?
The COP29 agreement to triple climate finance to $300 billion annually by 2035 is of course to a greater degree something that might see Africa achieve a number of its climate action goals such as increased support for adaptation in critical sectors, transitioning to clean energy sources and addressing the loss and damage. Thus, operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP29, coupled with increased finance could help African countries cope with the irreversible impacts of climate change, particularly climate extreme events. However, despite all enhanced mitigation efforts, increased global cooperation and the boost to climate confidence, challenges remain:
- Meeting the Target: Ensuring that developed countries deliver on their commitment to provide $300 billion annually will be crucial.
- Accessing the Funds: Streamlining the processes for accessing climate finance will be important to ensure that funds reach those who need them most.
- Focus on Adaptation: While mitigation is important, a significant portion of the finance must be directed towards adaptation efforts in vulnerable countries.
- Private Sector Involvement: Mobilizing private sector investment will be essential to reach the overall goal of $1.3 trillion per year by 2035.
Why does Gender Matter in the COP29 Finance Deal?
Undoubtedly, climate change disproportionately affects women and girls and increases their vulnerabilities in terms of less access to resources and decision-making power. Interestingly, women have untapped potential as they possess valuable knowledge and experience in managing natural resources and building resilience. Ultimately, their participation in climate solutions is essential not only to address climate change but also to promote gender equality and social justice.
- Progress: COP29 saw some progress in recognizing the importance of gender equality in climate action, with the extension of the Lima Work Programme on Gender and Climate Change.
- Shortcomings: However, there were concerns about the lack of clear targets and accountability mechanisms for gender-responsive climate finance.
The Way Forward
Moving ahead to COP30 in Brazil, I look forward to, African governments and civil society organizations – continued advocacy for gender equality in climate finance at international forums. This could be through gender-responsive budgeting, meaningful women participation, and supporting women-led climate initiatives. Additionally, strengthening collaboration between governments, NGOs, and international organizations is essential to ensure that climate finance benefits both people and the planet. Thus, by prioritizing gender equality in climate finance, Africa can unlock the full potential of its people and build more resilient and sustainable communities in the face of climate change.
Acknowledgement
I am forever grateful to the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) and its partners, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) for making my attendance to COP29 a success.
