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COP29 Live Blog
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COP 29 Live Blog - 19th November
Welcome to our live blog of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Over the next two weeks, world leaders, policymakers, activists, and experts will gather to discuss and negotiate critical issues related to climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability. The stakes are high, as the world faces a climate crisis that demands urgent and transformative action. We will be bringing you real-time updates, insights, and exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses of the event, providing a comprehensive overview of the discussions, decisions, and outcomes of COP 29.
End of Day Summary
Updated 23:45 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
It’s nearly midnight in Baku and activities have wrapped up for the day. The discussions have yet to deliver the breakthrough many were hoping for. Today was day 8 and discussions took place in unique and very different formats. From huddles in the corridors to high level plenaries and consultations. Here's a wrap of the last 12 hours in Baku:
- Climate Finance and Drafting Group Discussions: A key focus of today’s talks was the new collective quantified goal on climate finance, a central expectation for COP 29. Heads of Delegation gathered in a drafting group in an attempt to push forward on this issue, but the parties remain divided on how best to define and implement it.
- Technical Negotiations and Setbacks: Technical negotiations on several issues continued. Discussions on national adaptation plans (NAPs) were promising but postponed until June 2025. A separate session on transferring funds from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to the Paris Agreement mechanisms ended without consensus, with some countries hesitant to commit.
- Sobering Conversations on the Paris Agreement: Discussions on the Paris Agreement revealed significant challenges. Progress on future Global Stocktakes (GSTs) was limited due to disagreements on procedures, the IPCC's role, and the link between technical assessments and political processes. The practical implications of the first GST's outcomes for national policies remain unclear. The future of the annual dialogue on GST is uncertain, and there's ongoing debate about the need for additional NDC guidance.
High-Level Segment Highlights
The high-level discussions also saw notable interventions from various stakeholders. Some of the key highlights included:
- AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) lent strong support for Australia’s bid to host COP 31 and reiterated its call for a minimum allocation of USD 39 billion for small island developing states (SIDS), as well as USD 220 billion for least developed countries (LDCs). AOSIS also called for the inclusion of loss and damage financing in the new climate finance goal.
- Fiji addressed the broader issue of climate finance, stressing that the money needed to combat climate change is already available, but it is being diverted to fossil fuel subsidies, rather than being channeled towards clean energy solutions.
- The Netherlands urged more countries to join the coalition aiming to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, underlining that this is a crucial step in accelerating the global transition to renewable energy.
- The European Union pointed to its recent initiative to scale up renewables in Africa, a key component of its broader strategy to support global clean energy transitions.
- Singapore highlighted its role in mobilizing private capital for climate action in Asia, including through its “Financing Asia’s Transition” initiative. The country also stressed its ongoing efforts to develop a regional energy grid to support the expansion of green energy infrastructure across the region.
Saudi Arabia "Blocks Progress" at COP 29
Updated 20:50 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
From the diplomatic sources, we are learning that over the past 24 hours, Saudi Arabia is actively blocking negotiations, preventing progress in the negotiations rooms, particularly regarding the transition away from fossil fuels. The country, rich in oil, is resisting proposals that could limit its fossil fuel industry, including pledges to reduce carbon emissions, improve climate adaptation, and strengthen commitments from nations to combat climate change.
Saudi Arabia has opposed at least five key proposals in the discussions. These include changes to the COP 29 deal on reducing emissions, creating a registry for national climate commitments, and efforts to adapt to climate change impacts.
As one of the world’s leading oil producers, Saudi Arabia stands to lose a lot if the global transition away from fossil fuels accelerates. COP negotiations, which require consensus from all countries, can be easily derailed by any single nation, and Saudi Arabia is using its position to block the inclusion of key climate actions in new agreements.
Some diplomats claim that Saudi Arabia's obstructionism is part of a strategy to prevent the "transition away from fossil fuels" from being mentioned in any new commitments. This phrase was part of the deal agreed upon at COP 28, but Saudi Arabia is determined to ensure it does not become a repeated, enforceable pledge in future agreements.
UK, New Zealand, and Colombia Join Coalition to Phase Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Updated 19:50 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
The United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Colombia have joined an international coalition called the Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives, Including Subsidies (COFFIS). This coalition is led by the Netherlands and aims to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies while increasing transparency and removing obstacles to this goal.
COFFIS now has 16 member countries, which include Austria, Antigua and Barbuda, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The countries involved have committed to creating national plans to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by COP 30, a major climate conference.
COP 29 Achieves a "Historic First"
Updated 18:40 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
The COP 29 Azerbaijan Operating Company has been awarded the ISO 20121 certification, making Azerbaijan the first country in COP conference history to receive this certification for Sustainable Event Management and Organization criteria before the event's conclusion. This certification confirms that the event was organized in an environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and economically sustainable corporate manner.
The award ceremony was attended by UNFCCC officials, the leadership of the COP29 Azerbaijan OC, and representatives of strategic contractors. Chair of COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company and Chief Operating Officer for COP29, Narmin Jarchalova, and Zaur Farzaliyev from the Azerbaijan office of TÜV Austria emphasized the importance of this achievement and the and corporate sustainability commitment in their remarks.
Scaling National Adaptation Plans for Resilience
Updated 18:40 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Today, there was a high-level panel celebrating ten years of progress in formulating and implementing National Adaptation Plans. The session brought together governments, UN agencies, and key partners to show the important achievements and lessons learned over the years. As the effects of climate change continue to worsen, the accelerating pace of adaptation policies also becomes pressing to protect those communities and ecosystems that are most vulnerable. They also recognized how many countries were making efforts to include NAPs into their general development strategies.
The meeting coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the NAP Global Network, which has been at the forefront of developing-country adaptation processes. Its support has been instrumental in providing countries with the necessary tools, resources, and guidance to build resilience and improve local capacity. The discussions emerged with increased global collaboration on new emerging climate risks, while reaffirming commitments to bridge the gaps in finance, technology, and capacity that will drive more impactful adaptation solutions.
30+ Countries Pledge to Curb Methane Emissions
Updated 18:00 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Today at COP 29, over 30 countries, which combined accounts for nearly 50% of global methane emissions from organic waste, launched the Reducing Methane from Organic Waste Declaration. These nations have committed to setting quantified targets to reduce methane emissions from organic waste as part of their future Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. This commitment marks the critical step in tackling methane, a particularly potent greenhouse gas in the short term, which is largely released from food scraps, agricultural waste, and wastewater.
The signatories also agreed to put in concrete policies and action plans to achieve such methane reduction based on relevant support provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). This initiative not only puts a damper on climate change but also has great economic and environmental benefits in store, including proper waste management and perhaps ways of turning waste into valued resources. Addressing methane from organic waste, these countries take an important step in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change.
Negotiators Discuss Voluntary Contributions as Solution to Climate Finance
Updated 15:40 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Negotiators are still trying to figure out how to secure the necessary funding to address climate change. One idea currently being explored is the option of “voluntary contributions” from countries. EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra suggested that a "potential solution" could be to shift towards voluntary contributions. Hoekstra emphasized the idea that "with affluence comes responsibility," indicating that both "developed" and "developing" countries should contribute to climate finance. However, he acknowledged that it can be difficult for countries to change their official status from "developing" to "developed" within the UN system.
This issue of categorizing countries remains a major challenge in the negotiations. Gabbatiss notes that countries like China already provide significant amounts of funding for climate-related projects, but this money is not officially recognized as "climate finance" under the current UN system. If this funding were counted as part of global climate finance, it could significantly boost the total amount of funding available to tackle climate change.
US Congressman Accuses Azerbaijan of Orchestrating Assault During Baku Visit
Updated 15:20 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
A US congressman has accused the Azerbaijani government of attempting to assault him during his visit to Baku. Representative Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey, made the claims after returning to Washington on Monday. Pallone, known for his strong support for Armenia, said that he was only saved by the security provided by the US embassy during his visit.
Speaking to reporters, Pallone said that without the embassy’s protection, he would have been seriously harmed. "If it wasn’t for the security that the embassy hired, I would have been in the hospital," he stated. Pallone explained that he faced a hostile reception from local media while attending COP29, a major climate conference in the city. He also described how a group of about 50 individuals, whom he referred to as “thugs,” waited for him outside his hotel. Despite his request for local police to escort him through a back entrance, they refused, and Pallone’s embassy-provided security stepped in to protect him.
Pallone believes the incident was orchestrated by the Azerbaijani government to send a message that they did not want him in the country or speaking out about his concerns. "It was clear that they wanted to assault me," he said, adding, "This was orchestrated by the government."
In a related incident, Democratic Senator Ed Markey, another US politician, also faced harassment during his trip to Baku. Markey, who is a leading climate advocate, said that he needed bodyguard protection even while inside his hotel. Markey, who has been critical of Azerbaijan’s human rights and environmental record, accused the country of using the COP29 summit to “greenwash” its image. He argued that Azerbaijan, as a major energy producer, was intensifying repression while claiming to address climate issues.
"We can’t allow authoritarian petrostates to ignore both human rights and the urgent climate challenges we face,"
US Officials Highlight Conservation Achievements
Updated 14:40 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Today, on Food, Agriculture, and Water Day, US officials shared the Biden administration's progress on conservation and environmental efforts. At a press conference, Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, highlighted key achievements in the US conservation agenda.
Shortly after taking office, President Joe Biden set an ambitious goal to conserve 30% of US lands and waters by 2030. Mallory reported that more than 45 million acres have already been conserved toward that goal.
"I’m proud to say that we have conserved more than 45 million acres so far,"
Thomas Vilsack, the US Secretary of Agriculture, also spoke about the administration's work in agriculture and environmental sustainability. He emphasized the success of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM) initiative, which is led by the US and the UAE. At COP29, the initiative announced $29.2 billion in funding to support resilient agriculture and food systems around the world.
Vilsack and Mallory also discussed efforts to improve environmental justice, noting that the Biden administration has already invested in various projects, including cleaning up pollution and replacing gas-powered school buses with electric ones. Mallory addressed concerns about future environmental policies under a potential Trump administration, explaining that funding and community investments have already been made.
"Many dollars have already gone out to communities," Mallory said, referring to initiatives aimed at closing leaky oil and gas wells and transitioning to cleaner energy. "Some of those will surely continue."
While former President Donald Trump is to review and roll back these environmental protections, Mallory expressed confidence in the lasting impact of the administration's efforts.
Vilsack also highlighted that contracts and partnerships related to conservation have already been established, making it harder for any future administration to reverse the progress.
"There’s a groundswell of momentum that I don’t think any administration would be in a position to stop,"
Outcomes from COP29 Food, Water, and Agriculture Day
Updated 14:24 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Today, at the Food, Water, and Agriculture Day in Azerbaijan at COP29, stakeholders underlined the critical need to address methane emissions from organic waste as one of the very top items on the global climate action agenda. Innovative solutions will include such things as productive biogas, composting, and advanced waste management systems that are put forward as effective ways to radically reduce methane emissions. These practices contribute to climate change mitigation and the circular economy through the valorization of organic waste. There was an emphasis on the urgent need to have these practices scaled globally, particularly for those countries where agricultural waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
The core of the discussion was farmers as the most important agents of climate action. Farmers were to be commended for their contributions to the implementation of sustainable practices that improve food security, ensure water conservation, and enhance resilience against climate impacts. The promotion of farmers through technology, economic incentives, and capacity building was widely supported, confirming their crucial role in realizing a fair and sustainable transition in agriculture. COP29 further illustrates how food, water, and agriculture are linked in the context of meeting climate objectives and provides concrete avenues toward common success.
Australia Excluded from US-UK Nuclear Deal
Updated 13:40 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Yesterday, Australia was omitted from a US-UK civil nuclear deal that aims to advance nuclear technology, including small modular reactors. While the UK initially listed Australia as a participant, the Australian government swiftly denied any involvement in the collaboration. The UK government subsequently removed Australia's name from the official press release.
Backchannel reports suggest that Australia was "sort of involved at first" but left the table for undisclosed reasons. This development comes as Australia faces increasing international scrutiny over its climate policies. Pacific island nations, including Vanuatu and Tuvalu, have strongly criticized Australia's plans to expand its gas industry in Western Australia, warning of significant greenhouse gas emissions. These nations have accused Australia of hypocrisy, arguing that its climate rhetoric contradicts its actions in the fossil fuel sector.
Progress in the Wake of the G20 Summit
Updated 12:50 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
As we enter the eighth day of talks in Baku, the most significant progress on climate action is not coming from the conference itself, but from Brazil, the host country for the next conference, COP30. Early this morning, the G20 communique delivered an important boost for those advocating a transition away from fossil fuels, reaffirming support for key climate outcomes from COP 28 and the Paris Agreement.
"We welcome and fully subscribe to the ambitious and balanced outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28), in particular the UAE Consensus and its first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement (GST-1). We will respond positively to the GST-1 encouragement for Parties to the Paris Agreement to come forward in their next nationally determined contributions with ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories and aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 C, as informed by the latest science, in the light of different national circumstances."
While the G20 communique does not explicitly use the phrase "transition away from fossil fuels," it makes clear the commitment to the climate resolutions reached at COP 28 in Dubai, particularly the ambitious Global Stocktake and the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The communique underscores the importance of economy-wide emissions reductions and the need for countries to submit more ambitious climate action plans in their upcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The 'Valley of Death'
Updated 12:43 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Day eight has seen the negotiations enter a critical stage often referred to as the “valley of death” — a challenging period in climate talks when momentum slows, frustration builds, and progress feels elusive. With four long days still to go, negotiators are feeling the strain, trapped in the grind of intense discussions, marathon sessions, and the pressure of trying to reach meaningful agreements.
At this point in the talks, after over a week of endless hours in overheated, impersonal rooms, the atmosphere is heavy, and the weight of the climate crisis itself seems to intensify. The "valley of death" is a term often used to describe this phase of negotiations, where talks risk stalling, tempers fray, and the road ahead appears impossibly long. Yet, despite this daunting feeling, history has shown that breakthroughs are possible even in these trying moments.
The central focus remains on securing a new climate finance model to support developing countries in tackling the climate crisis. Ministers have been working to design a framework capable of delivering at least $1 trillion per year to those most in need. Chris Bowen, Australia’s climate change and energy minister and co-chair of the finance negotiations, likened the task to piecing together a “four-dimensional jigsaw puzzle,” with nearly 200 countries each holding a different perspective on where each piece should go.
Alongside this, discussions have restarted on how to transition away from fossil fuels, building on the agreements made at COP 28. However, progress has been hampered by resistance from oil-producing nations, led by Saudi Arabia, making it unclear whether a tangible outcome will emerge.
The Final Push
Updated 12:35 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
Today is the second day of the second, final and critical week of COP 29. Yesterday, negotiations remained intense on critical issues like climate finance, loss and damage, and mitigation. Developing nations are pressing for substantial financial support to adapt to climate change and transition to renewable energy, while developed nations have yet to fully commit to their contributions. Key issues on the table include the "new collective quantified goal on climate finance," a crucial funding agreement for climate action. Additionally, vulnerable nations are advocating for a dedicated loss and damage sub-goal within this new finance goal to address the irreversible impacts of climate change. While some progress has been made, significant disagreements persist.
Good Morning!
Updated 11:00 GMT+4 – 19/11/24
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