TMG Think Tank for Sustainability’s Post

The Conference of Parties - COP29 Azerbaijan starts today in Baku. Over two weeks, world leaders will come together to discuss and assess global efforts to advance the Paris Agreement which limit global warming to 1.5°C. #COP29 - whose theme is "In solidarity for a Green World" - should focus on climate action, financing the transition, sustainability, and global partnerships. We turned to our #ThinkSustainableEurope network of sustainability think tanks to hear from their Executive Directors. ✔ What should we expect from the summit? ✔ What should be the topics and ambitions at the centre of the debate? ✔ Where should the negotiations lead to? With Eero Yrjö-Koskinen, Maria J. Sanz Sanchez - BC3 - Basque Centre for Climate Change, Alexander Muller - TMG Think Tank for Sustainability, Miljenka Kuhar - Društvo za oblikovanje održivog razvoja (DOOR) András Kéri - Energiaklub Climate Policy Institute, Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder - International Institute for Sustainable Development, Krzysztof Fal - WiseEuropa, Vit Dostal - Climate Team (AMO.cz), Sébastien Treyer - IDDRI, Måns Nilsson - SEI — Stockholm Environment Institute #COP29Azerbaijan

Tomorrow marks the start of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Here, the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will convene to discuss and decide on measures to combat climate change. A central objective, as established in the 2015 Paris Agreement, is to limit the increase in global average temperature to a maximum of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. However, recent data from the European climate service Copernicus indicate that the average global temperature in 2024 is expected to be 1.55 °C above pre-industrial levels, thereby exceeding the Paris target for the first time. Since the onset of industrialization, CO₂ emissions have been on a continuous rise. A notable decline occurred only in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, emissions increased again in the subsequent years, reaching a new peak of 39.0 billion tons in 2023. Given that the climate is a sluggish system and changes in CO₂ emissions manifest with a delay, urgent action is imperative. The extreme rainfall in Central Europe and the devastating hurricanes in the USA this year already provide a foretaste of future challenges. Additionally, new political frameworks, particularly in the USA, offer limited hope for a shift in perspective. The election of Donald Trump as US President could influence the country’s climate policy and impede international efforts to reduce emissions. In the coming two weeks, it will become evident how willing humanity is to change in order to secure its own existence. It is to be hoped that this meeting does not share the same fate as the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference, which took place from October 21 to November 1, 2024, in Cali, Colombia, and ended without decisive progress in global species protection due to unresolved financing issues. COP29 offers the opportunity to adopt concrete measures and set the course for a sustainable future. It is up to all of us to seize this opportunity and take decisive action against climate change. #COP29 #ClimateChange #ParisAgreement #1Point5Degrees #ClimateProtection #Sustainability #ClimateCrisis #ClimatePolicy #EnvironmentalProtection #FuturePlanning

Today marks the start of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29 Azerbaijan) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Here, the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will convene to discuss and decide on measures to combat climate change. A central objective, as established in the 2015 Paris Agreement, is to limit the increase in global average temperature to a maximum of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. However, recent data from the European climate service Copernicus indicate that the average global temperature in 2024 is expected to be 1.55 °C above pre-industrial levels, thereby exceeding the Paris target for the first time. Since the onset of industrialization, CO₂ emissions have been on a continuous rise. A notable decline occurred only in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, emissions increased again in the subsequent years, reaching a new peak of 39.0 billion tons in 2023. Given that the climate is a sluggish system and changes in CO₂ emissions manifest with a delay, urgent action is imperative. The extreme rainfall in Central Europe and the devastating hurricanes in the USA this year already provide a foretaste of future challenges. Additionally, new political frameworks, particularly in the USA, offer limited hope for a shift in perspective. The election of Donald Trump as US President could influence the country’s climate policy and impede international efforts to reduce emissions. In the coming two weeks, it will become evident how willing humanity is to change in order to secure its own existence. It is to be hoped that this meeting does not share the same fate as the 16th UN Biodiversity Conference, which took place from October 21 to November 1, 2024, in Cali, Colombia, and ended without decisive progress in global species protection due to unresolved financing issues. COP29 offers the opportunity to adopt concrete measures and set the course for a sustainable future. It is up to all of us to seize this opportunity and take decisive action against climate change. #COP29 #ClimateChange #ParisAgreement #1Point5Degrees #ClimateProtection #Sustainability #ClimateCrisis #ClimatePolicy #EnvironmentalProtection #FuturePlanning

#FYI: Joint UNDP Climate Peace & Security team and partners as they prepare for #UNFCCCCOP29 to get insightful information and Best Practices. Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI),African Union Africa Youth Growth Foundation [AYGF]

On 11 November, #COP29 kicks off—the world’s largest international climate conference.   With climate impacts continuously battering countries and economies, much is at stake.   All countries must work together to deliver concrete, ambitious outcomes to protect people, prosperity, and our planet. 💚   The world is watching.   More about COP29: https://unfccc.int/cop29 @unclimatechange #cop29baku #COP29 #cop29 #cop29azerbaijan #climatechange #sustainme #beresponsiblebesustainable #sustainability #climateaction #cop29impactmakers #baku #bakü #bakuazerbaijan

From November 11th to 22nd, world leaders will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This is our moment to make a difference. Why COP29 Matters: 🌿COP29 is critical to strengthening the global fight against climate change and keeping the planet within a livable temperature range. It’s time for leaders to act boldly and decisively. 💰 We need increased funding to help the countries most affected by climate change transition to low-carbon economies and adapt to the impacts they can no longer avoid. 🌏 Southeast Asia faces the brunt of climate impacts—rising sea levels, extreme storms, and devastating weather patterns threaten millions. This is our chance to ensure our region's voice is heard. It’s time to demand more: 🚨 We must push for a New Collective Quantified Goal that matches the scale of the climate crisis.  🔥COP29 must commit to aggressive emission targets to stay within the 1.5°C limit. 📊 Demand actionable, effective climate policies that lead to tangible change. 💪 We need more funding to protect vulnerable communities from the irreversible impacts of climate change. 📢 Speak up for the planet. For Southeast Asia. For future generations. #WeAreManushyan ♾️EqualHumanBeings #COP29 #ClimateAction #ClimateJustice #StandForThePlanet #FutureIsNow #ClimateChange #Sustainability #SoutheastAsia

Water: A critical yet overlooked issue in the COP29 climate agenda At COP29 Azerbaijan, nearly 50 countries signed the Baku Declaration on Water for Climate Action, committing to: 🔹 Adopt integrated approaches to address the impacts of climate change on river basins. 🔹 Strengthen regional and international cooperation in water resource management. 🔹 Incorporate water-related measures into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Additionally, the Baku Dialogue was launched as a platform to: 🔸 Ensure continuity between COPs on water issues and their interconnections with climate change, biodiversity, desertification, and pollution. 🔸 Promote scientific evidence on climate change impacts on water resources. 🔸 Support the implementation of water-related initiatives presented at UN climate conferences. While these are positive steps, water continues to play a minor role in the COP agenda, despite being a critical resource for climate change mitigation and adaptation. As we look ahead to COP30 in Brazil, we must work to ensure water takes center stage, becoming a central pillar of climate action. #COP29 #WaterForClimate #ClimateAction #Sustainability #COP30

We couldn't agree more with the urgency of addressing climate change. It's encouraging to see that sustainability and innovation are part of Sweden's DNA and that Swedish companies are making the green transition a business strategy. It's crucial that companies worldwide follow this example and prioritize sustainability in their operations. COP29 is an excellent opportunity to showcase pioneering green solutions and collaborate towards reaching the Paris Agreement targets. We hope to see more companies join Sweden's official business delegation and take action towards a more sustainable future. #COP29 #COP29Azerbaijan #ClimateAction #SDGSummit

On 11 November, #COP29 kicks off—the world’s largest international climate conference.   With climate impacts continuously battering countries and economies, much is at stake.   All countries must work together to deliver concrete, ambitious outcomes to protect people, prosperity, and our planet. 💚   The world is watching.   More about COP29: https://unfccc.int/cop29 @unclimatechange #cop29baku #COP29 #cop29 #cop29azerbaijan #climatechange #sustainme #beresponsiblebesustainable #sustainability #climateaction #cop29impactmakers #baku #bakü #bakuazerbaijan

We’re now more than halfway through COP29 Azerbaijan where our leaders have been gathering with policymakers, change agents, and climate trailblazers to chart a course for a more sustainable energy future. Together, we’re setting the tone for global climate action, addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change today to accelerate industry towards net-zero. Hear takeaways from Lorenzo Simonelli and Marie Merle Caekebeke from on the ground in Baku and gain insights into some of the critical discussions that have taken place so far 👇. Follow our Chief Sustainability Officer Allyson Anderson Book for more updates from #COP29. #COP29Azerbaijan #EmissionsAbatement #ClimateAction #ClimateChange #EnergyTechnology #SustainableEnergy