3 Weeks to the COP on the Steppe
Keeping you updated about the COP on the Steppe!
Welcome to the sixth edition of our COP29 newsletter! As Baku gears up for this historic climate conference, we're here to keep you informed with the latest updates, insights, and news leading up to the event.
Stay tuned for more updates as we cover the key developments surrounding COP29 and its potential impact on the region and beyond.
Countdown to the COP: 3 Weeks to go!
Insights:
The Pre-COP gathering on October 10-11 set the stage for COP29, with climate leaders and officials focusing on crucial priorities such as climate finance, mitigation, adaptation, and the inclusion of vulnerable communities. This aligns with the emphasis placed by the COP29 Presidency on the COP29 Declaration on Water for Climate Action, recognizing water management as fundamental to addressing climate-related challenges.
Simultaneously, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell stressed the urgent need for a dramatic increase in global climate finance, positioning COP29 as a decisive moment to address these concerns. Additionally, the European Union finalized its negotiating position, pledging support for ambitious climate plans that aim to keep the global temperature rise within 1.5°C and advocating for a global goal on climate finance.
Other Developments around COP29 last weekÂ
Thailand will promote a just transition to a green economy at COP29, supporting the Loss and Damage Fund and aligning with ASEAN’s plan to establish an ASEAN Centre for Climate Change.
The Youth Pre-COP29 Conference in Tajikistan highlighted children's climate vulnerabilities and called for resilience strategies to prioritize their rights and futures.
Baku Stadium will enhance accessibility at COP29, offering sign language interpretation, hearing support, and medical teams to ensure 24-hour healthcare for participants.
WWF is pushing for increased forest financing, stronger accountability in tracking climate pledges, and ambitious national targets ahead of COP29.
OPEC and Japan will host pavilions at COP29, with OPEC focusing on climate finance goals and Japan showcasing carbon-neutral technologies like SCiBâ„¢ and AEROXIAâ„¢.
Armenia and Azerbaijan could sign a peace deal before COP29, while the Organization of Turkic States will hold its first ecology ministers' meeting during the conference.
Trends from COP
In an exclusive interview with Trend, Laura Brown, Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy in Uzbekistan, discussed the MoU between the US and Uzbekistan aimed at diversifying global mineral supply chains and promoting clean energy transitions, a key focus of COP29. The MoU seeks to enhance Uzbekistan’s mining sector with US investments, strengthening economic ties and advancing global climate goals. Brown also highlighted the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA), signed in September 2024, to boost cooperation in tackling trafficking and terrorism. Both nations are expanding bilateral trade, including agricultural financing, while Uzbekistan's participation in MINExpo 2024 underscores its focus on sustainable resource management.
For more details: Memorandum between US, Uzbekistan on critical minerals promotes clean energy initiatives – embassy (Exclusive) at trend.az
Polling on regional attitudes towards COP29
Our polling aimed to gauge the level of concern about climate change across the Caucasus and Central Asia, as climate awareness continues to rise.
The results show that 61% of respondents express concern about climate change, with 28% being very concerned. This significant level of concern reflects the growing awareness of climate issues, particularly in Central Asia, where countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan exhibit a more acute sense of urgency.
However, the intensity of concern varies across the region. In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, higher percentages of the population report significant concern, likely due to the direct impacts they face, such as extreme weather events and water scarcity. In other countries, the level of concern is present but less intense, highlighting regional differences in climate change perception.
What We’re Reading
What is COP29 and why is it important? - Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank
Issues at stake in view of the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku-Scaling up climate action and support - Think Tank | European Parliament (europa.eu)
EU Agrees COP29 Climate Stance, Leaving Money Question Unanswered - Bloomberg - John Ainger
If you have any questions re contents of this newsletter or need advice or assistance at COP29, please don’t hesitate to contact us at eurasia@montfort.london, or our partners at Trend at news@trend.az.