Countdown to the COP : 5 weeks to go
Keeping you updated about the COP on the Steppe!
Welcome to the fourth 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.
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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 : 5 weeks to go
Insights:
In the lead-up to COP29, key developments are shaping the global climate agenda. At the 79th UN General Assembly, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted initiatives like advancing carbon credit markets and creating a Climate Finance Action Fund to support climate projects in developing countries. Meanwhile, Central Asian countries, led by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources and UNDP, held a regional conference to align strategies on adaptation planning and climate finance, demonstrating a collective effort to tackle climate challenges.
Global leaders have also engaged in an informal ministerial dialogue on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), focusing on accelerating climate finance negotiations. This issue is set to be a key focus of the upcoming COP29 summit. The discussions underscore the growing momentum and international cooperation necessary for driving effective climate action, particularly in the realm of climate finance solutions that can benefit vulnerable nations and regions.
Other Developments around COP29 last weekÂ
Baku Climate Action Week (Sept 30 - Oct 4) brings together governments, businesses, and climate activists, while COP29 Organizing Committee reviews progress on the Action Plan under Samir Nuriyev's leadership.
UAE to release its national climate plan for 2025-2035 ahead of COP29, with Kenyan President William Ruto urging a united African front for fairer climate financing.
COP29 International Advisory Committee met in New York on Sept 27 to update on progress, while the Caspian Sea shrinkage will be a central issue at the conference.
Azerbaijan's COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev met UK’s Ed Miliband to discuss decarbonization strategies and signed a letter of intent with UNCTAD to advance the Baku Initiative on Climate Finance.
COP29 Truce Initiative launched on International Peace Day, endorsed by over 1,000 organizations, highlighting global support for peaceful climate action.
Baku Higher Oil School hosted a youth-focused ideathon on green jobs, and ACWA Power signed on as the COP29 Energy & Water Partner, highlighting renewable energy commitments.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb plans to attend COP29, strengthening international participation in the climate summit.
Leading Pacific Islands academic Sala Dr George Carter joins the COP29 Presidency Scientific Council, and a High-Level Forum on Climate Transparency was held at the UN General Assembly by Azerbaijan on vulnerable communities are central to COP29’s inclusivity agenda.
Trends from COP
Our partners at Trend News Agency in Baku sat with Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Energy and COP29 Executive Director, Elnur Soltanov, to discuss the Hydrogen Declaration for COP29, which will outline global aspirations for hydrogen energy development and certification. Soltanov emphasized the need for certifying different types of hydrogen, particularly "green hydrogen," which has no greenhouse gas emissions. Azerbaijan is leading three key initiatives at COP29—Green Energy Zones, Global Energy Storage, and the Hydrogen Declaration—to support the global energy transition. In November, Baku will host COP29, welcoming 70–80,000 foreign guests as a major hub for climate action.
For more details: Azerbaijan details energy transition initiatives at COP29
Polling on regional attitudes towards COP29
Our polling aimed to understand what people believe should be prioritized for sustainable development, as environmental concerns and sustainability goals become increasingly urgent across the region.
The results show that 27% of respondents believe the preservation of natural resources should be the top priority, with particularly strong support in Kazakhstan (34%) and Kyrgyzstan (32%). This emphasis reflects the importance of protecting the environment in these countries, where natural resources are vital to both the economy and daily life.
Programs for waste reduction and recycling and the implementation of renewable energy sources also stand out as critical, each garnering 18% of support. In Kyrgyzstan, waste reduction is especially significant at 27%, while in Georgia, 23% of respondents prioritize renewable energy implementation. Meanwhile, in Tajikistan, 33% of respondents emphasize the need for education and raising public awareness about sustainable development. These findings underscore the diverse challenges and priorities each nation faces as they work toward sustainability.
What We’re Reading
The Climate Transition Impact Framework: A concept note - Gassan Al-Kibsi, Alessandro Casoli, Sarah Crowhurst, Kartik Jayaram, Cindy Levy, Daniel Pacthod, and Matt Stone
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources position paper for UNFCCC COP29 - 10 key messages in the lead up to UNFCCC COP29.
Looking forward after Climate Week | WWF - Marcene Mitchell WWF's Senior Vice President, Climate Change.
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.