The UNFCCC COP happens every year. It is a chance to negotiate new measures and review how well countries are doing in limiting climate change. In 2024, COP29 will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Every year, COP is held in different parts of the country, and this year, it is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan (Photo credit: United Nations)
New Delhi: COP29, a United Nations (UN) climate summit, will begin today, November 11, in Baku, Azerbaijan. According to media reports, reaching a consensus on a deal among over 200 countries participating in the summit will be difficult. If any resolution is passed, it will be considered one of the most important meetings since the 2015 Paris meeting. Also, since the takeover, Afghanistan’s Taliban will attend COP29 for the first time.
In this article, let us look at what COP29 is and what the agenda for this year is.
What is COP?
COP stands for Conference of the Parties. It is an international climate change meeting organised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). COP is the main decision-making group of the UNFCCC. It includes representatives from all the countries, called ‘Parties’, that have agreed to participate in and follow the UNFCCC.
What is COP29?
COP29 is the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It will be held from November 11 to November 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The conference is an important opportunity to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis.
As global temperatures hit record highs and extreme weather events affected people worldwide, the UN Conference brought leaders, governments, civil society, and businesses together to find concrete solutions to today’s defining issues. Every year, the UN Climate Summit is held in a different part of the world. This year, it is being held in Azerbaijan.
What is the main agenda for COP29?
COP29 aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C and emphasises the urgent need for investment in climate action. The conference will focus on enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) aligned with this target, promoting fossil fuel phase-out, increasing renewable energy, and addressing methane emissions.
A key priority is operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund to support vulnerable communities, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
All countries are urged to develop National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) by 2025 and enhance adaptation finance.
The agenda kicks off on November 11, followed by discussions on the Paris Agreement, methane reduction, and the Baku Initiative for Climate Finance launch. Subsequent topics include energy, digitalisation, human development, food and water security, urbanisation, and indigenous knowledge. The event concludes on November 22 with negotiations to finalise COP29 commitments.
India’s focus in COP29
According to a report in Hindustan Times, India plans to prioritise its national goals for sustainable development, energy security, and climate action at the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Officials say India’s expectations for COP29 are based on its approach from previous conferences. Also, India will emphasise respecting the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle.
As per reports, India is calling for action on the loss and damage caused by climate change. It wants more commitments to finance these efforts at COP29. India will keep discussing how to strengthen global climate action and urge developed countries to increase their climate goals.
Why is Azerbaijan the location for the conference?
Azerbaijan signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016, and it was ratified on January 9, 2017. Roughly a month later, it entered into force on February 8, 2017.
Controversy around Azerbaijan as a choice for the conference
Several media reports have suggested that Azerbaijan is a controversial choice for the conference because it is a major oil and gas producer. Reporters and anti-corruption groups have criticised the conference’s location in an authoritarian country with high levels of corruption. The “official partners” of COP29 include businesses owned by Ilham Aliyev’s family or those connected to his family’s businesses.
Why is a petrostate a choice for COP meet?
Azerbaijan is in the spotlight as it hosts the UN’s COP29 climate conference in Baku, where diplomats will gather to address climate change threats. The country is known for its historical oil production; Baku was home to the world’s first oil fields in 1846 and led in production by 1899.
Nestled between Iran and Russia along the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan’s economy heavily relies on oil and gas exports, which contribute significantly to carbon emissions.
President Ilham Aliyev has expressed pride in hosting the conference and aims to increase renewable energy use domestically to enhance oil and gas exports.
According to the New York Times, Azerbaijan’s economy relies almost entirely on fossil fuels, which are the main cause of global warming.
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