COP29 summit Azerbaijan: live coverage

The 29^th iteration of the Conference of the Parties is now underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. Over the next two weeks, we’ll bring you the essential information from each thematic day. Will national delegates make a genuine impact, or are we looking at another greenwashing fest?

We’re back for yet another Conference of the Parties.

Some 67,000 global leaders, delegates, journalists, and fossil fuel lobbyists – let’s face it – have all convened in Baku, Azerbaijan to negotiate on all things climate policy across the next two weeks.

On occasion, the summit has delivered promising treaties and ambitions, primarily the 2015 Paris Agreement framework, which saw 196 nations pledge to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030.

By and large, however, the majority of meetings have fallen woefully short in terms of tangible ecological impact. Stay with us as we wade through a tornado of lip service to bring you the notable updates each day.

Will we be disappointed? Probably. Are we hopeful some optimism can be gleaned? Regrettably, yes.

We’ll be highlighting a handful of notable points from each day at the summit, and any ‘major’ developments throughout the evening will be added retrospectively the following morning.

Without further ado, let’s separate the wheat from the chaff. Remember to hit that refresh button!

Key takeaways of the conference (Monday 25th Nov)

The conference has now officially wrapped up for another year. Here’s the key information you need to take from weeks worth of noise.

• Firstly, we apologies for the arbitrary themes placed on each day of this roundup. They were completely irrelevant about 90% of the time and all eyes were on the finance draft.

• The coveted $1.3 trillion annual figure in climate finance has been sealed in ink, but the devil is in the detail. Campaigners assert the agreement is a ‘betrayal’ for developing nations in dire need of adaptation.

• Just $300 billion will come in the form that is most needed – grants and loans from the developed world – while the rest relies on private investors and new, untenable sources. These include possible levies on fossil fuels and frequent flyers, both of which have yet to be agreed.

  Basically, expect more floundering and subsequent recriminations by COP30.

• After a decade of efforts to establish a rulebook for carbon credits, a deal to allow countries to begin establishing them was reached. They will, in-theory, allow nations to bring in funding and offset their emissions, or to trade them on a market exchange.

Aside from that, the general feeling is that COP conferences are becoming less fit for purpose as each summit rolls by. The willingness to transition away from fossil fuels isn’t strengthening as needed, and global emissions remain on the rise.

Will this conference turn the tide in any notable capacity, or are we dealing with more of the same? Only time will tell. Thanks for keeping it locked to Thred for another year and look out for follow up stories on COP29.

Final Negotiations (Friday 22nd Nov)

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day… but leaders at Azerbaijan’s Cop event are still stuck in the same place physically and mentally.

The climate texts presented overnight have been met with overwhelmingly negative reactions from Global South nations and civil society groups alike.

Leaders and organisations are pretty pissed off at wealthy nations for being stingy with their contributions to the climate finance budget (about $250 billion).

If you missed it, Global South nations have said they need a little over $1 trillion – which is less than the global budget for military spending in the last year.

It’s also significantly less than the world’s gross domestic product – a measure of the size of the economy – which sits at around $110tn, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

1/ 🚨 No deal is better than a bad deal. 🚨

As #COP29 nears its end, a packed CAN press conference heard how civil society is holding the line.

The stakes? Survival, justice, and humanity’s future.

Here’s why we’re fighting till the last hour. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/PCTT5nDwlC

— Climate Action Network International (CAN) (@CANIntl) November 22, 2024

World leaders and organisations are insulted

Panama’s lead negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez delivered a scathing speech stating:

‘The $250 billion offered by developed countries is a spit on the face of vulnerable nations like mine. They offer crumbs while we bear the dead. Outrageous, evil and remorseless.’

Meanwhile, Laurie van der Burg, a representative from Oil Change International, stated:

‘This text is an absolute embarrassment. It’s the equivalent of governments handing the keys to the firetruck to the arsonists. The vague $1.3 trillion investment target is not to be relied on and the $250 billion goal is not debt-free.’

Several key takeaways:

• The proposed figure—$250 billion annually by 2035—marks an incremental increase from the $100 billion commitment set in 2009
• The developing world has made it clear that anything less than $1.3 trillion annually risks stalling adaptation efforts and exacerbating inequality.
• Baku’s presidency defends the draft as a product of marathon consultations and a ‘balanced’ compromise, despite it leaning heavily on private sector investment – a volatile and unreliable partner in the fight against climate breakdown.
• The Alliance Of Small Island States (AOSIS) – which includes countries like Samoa, Tonga, Barbados and Bermuda – said in a statement that it cannot be expected to agree to a text which shows ‘contempt for our vulnerable people’ and which will ‘severely stagnate climate action efforts’.
• Most climate and human rights organisations are telling Global South nations not to accept what they label ‘a bad deal’.

Another Cop runs overtime…

As the UN climate conference in Baku approaches its eleventh hour, the world is left holding its breath.

Negotiators are grappling with a climate finance proposal that could shape the trajectory of global climate action for decades, but they’re rolling into overtime to do so.

It’s not unusual for Cop events to go past their designated time frame, in fact, very few have finished on time.

Will negotiators in Baku reach a more satisfying consensus soon? How long will it take?

We’re signing off for the weekend, but will hopefully have some good news to report on Monday morning. Hopefully.

Biodiversity / Indigenous People / Gender Equality / Oceans Day (Thurs 21st Nov)

We’re back with another day of Cop-dates!

If the past week is anything to go by, it’s likely we can expect the assigned themes to be totally sidelined in favour of the climate finance texts submitted overnight.

Indeed, these texts were submitted on time, however they omit one key and crucial facet: how much money wealthy nations should contribute.

It seems like deliberations on this total figure will continue across today’s talks and into the night. Global South nations are requesting $1 trillion in climate finance and reparations, while wealthier nations want to keep the number in the hundreds of millions.

Though things are looking bleak, we’re holding out hope for tomorrow’s final day of talks.

New #COP29 finance text is ugly. All the bad stuff is in, all the good stuff out.

❌ Number too low to be worth mentioning
❌ Total evasion of responsibilities of wealthy countries
❌ No #LossAndDamage
❌ No #HumanRights
❌ No guaranteed provision, no grants

WTF – for real. pic.twitter.com/qzNfcVpsUx

— Lien Vandamme (@lienvandamme) November 22, 2024

Urbanisation / Transport / Tourism Day (Wed 20^th Nov)

Rise and shine, we’re tucking into a new day at Cop. Well, sort of.

Climate finance continues to dominate talks today, as delegates await the release of a key set of climate finance settlement texts. These are due by midnight in Azerbaijan and will include:

• Action aimed at cutting emissions (mitigation), plans to increase protection for communities against climate disasters (adaptation) and national climates pledges (NDCs). 
• Developed countries say they can’t commit to contributing figures until this new text is on the table. 
• They require that the texts distinguish between 1) finance from developed country taxpayers 2) finance provided indirectly 3) the timeframe for providing finance and 4) terms on who should be expected to contribute.
• Developing countries say they need $1.3 trillion a year, but other nations have proposed figures from $200 billion to $900 billion. Global South nations have called these lowball estimates ‘a joke’.

Trillions spent on war and pennies for climate finance?

Conflict has become a talking point. Some leaders see the trend of rising military budgets as unacceptable when climate finance is so desperately needed.

• At present, global military spending currently stands at $2.5 trillion a year.
• Panama’s Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez stated: ‘For some, $2.5 trillion to kill each other is not enough, but $1 trillion to save lives is unreasonable.
  • He added, rather aptly: ‘Causing our own extinction is the most ridiculous thing. At least the dinosaurs had an asteroid. What is our excuse?’

The financial and environmental cost of war was difficult to ignore as Ukraine marked 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

• Speaking to delegates, Ukraine’s Environment minister Svitlana Grynchuk noted that since the war began:
  • 3 million hectares of forest have been destroyed
  • 139,000 square kilometres have been contaminated by explosive residue
  • $71 billion has been racked up in environmental damage across Ukraine
  • 180 million tonnes of additional carbon dioxide has been released due to the fighting

Some additional takeaways from today…

• Argentina cleared up speculation that it was planning to leave the Paris Agreement.
• An updated annual Climate Performance Index was released at Cop today. Denmark was ranked as best performing of all nations, but the first three spots have once again been left empty as no country is currently doing enough to earn these positions (see chart above).
• The EU was granted the Fossil of the Day award by the Climate Action Network, due to its outright reluctance to raise its contributions to climate finance.
• The UN, UNESCO, and the Brazilian government have launched a new initiative to counter climate disinformation.

As you can probably see, the theme for today was pretty much thrown out the window.

This is disappointing as there’s a lot of work to be done before the transport sector can become carbon neural (including reducing the cost of EVS, sustainable aviation fuels, and more). It also wouldn’t have hurt to see suggestions for making urban cities environmentally friendly and more sustainable.

That said, it seems like world leaders had their hands full. Most were racing to meet the 12pm deadline for the climate finance texts. These should drop overnight, so we’ll see you back here with some fresh updates tomorrow!

Food, Agriculture and Water Day (Tues 19th Nov)

Morning! Let’s have at it.

Negotiators have run into what some describe as the ‘valley of death’ that can hit UN climate talks at this avenue. After being locked in a footie stadium for a week, environment ministers’ attempts to strike deals can get tetchy. That’s not to say we shouldn’t expect pen to paper on some important matters in the next 24 hours.

• The G20 has all but confirmed in writing (see here) that it still intends to transition the planet away from fossil fuels. Given the international gaggle contributes 85% of emissions, that’s positive – provided stuff actually happens.

• • And just like that, we’re back to the feels of trepidation. The Ugandan chairman, Adonia Ayebare, is uncomfortable with vague wording that the needed trillions must come from ‘all sources.’ The G20 need to be crystal clear this year on its action plan.

This article was written 112 years ago. 112 years, and we still aren’t doing what we need to do to address the climate crisis.

No time to wait. #ActOnClimate #Climate #energy #ClimateEmergency #renewables #COP29 pic.twitter.com/9GUEKYp7Zc

— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) November 15, 2024

• The UK, New Zealand, and Colombia have joined a coalition of 16 member nations to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. All will be expected to present their pathways to achieving this feat at COP30. Yup, another whole year of waiting for a ring binder. 

• Just a reminder: Governments reckon $1.3trn sounds a lot for climate finance, but that’s a lesser sum than the G20 spent on subsidising and supporting fossil fuels in 2022 alone. Rest assured, it’s a matter of appetite. 

That’s a wrap for day eight. The overriding feeling, again, is frustration at progress being held up. The UAE blocking motions is a recurring theme, and currently anything near $1trn in annual climate financing remains but a pipe dream. See you bright and early tomorrow.

Human Capital, Children and Youth, Health & Education Day (Monday 18th Nov)  

It’s week two, and we’re off to a rocky start.

‘This has been the worst first week of a Cop in my 15 years attending these summits,’ said Mohamed Adow, director of the Power Shift Africa thinktank.

‘There’s been limited progress. I sense frustration, especially among the developing country groups here at COP. The presidency isn’t giving any hope for how the world will strike the right compromises.’

He’s not the only one going into the second half like this. Echoing his sentiment, critics have called COP29 ‘stuck,’ ‘logjammed,’ and ‘on a knife’s edge.’

Their commentary comes amid a new assessment of the role of climate change in extreme weather events, which found that it’s supercharging heatwaves, floods, storms, droughts and wildfires (duh).

With this in mind, who can really blame ‘em for being so pessimistic?

But let’s not get too bogged down just yet.

Here are some more uplifting updates (we are scraping the barrel here).

• Some powerful new speakers took to the stage today – children. As you likely know, young people have struggled to have their voices heard at COP in recent years, so it’s at least something of a positive that they’re finally (deservedly) being given a platform.

‘I stand before you today, not just as one child, but as the voice of millions of children whose lives are deeply affected by climate change, especially our health and education,’ said 10-year-old Georgia from Tanzania in an impassioned plea to world leaders. ‘Remember, when you protect the environment, you protect children’s health, education and dreams, and a healthy, educated child can change the world.’

• Today also saw a high-level dialogue on national adaptation plans (NAPs) take place. NAPs are vital if we’re to protect people and economies from the impacts of climate change and minimise losses and damages on lives and livelihoods.The overarching aim of these talks was to explore concrete ways to enhance support for NAPs, with a key focus on innovative adaptation finance and technical assistance for implementation.

• Finally, COP-watchers have been keeping an eye on the G20 summit in Brazil, which kicked off today, and could raise ambition on the finance outcome. Here’s hoping.

Science, Technology & Innovation Day (Saturday 16th Nov)

The midway point came as world leaders began making their way to Brazil for next week’s G20 summit. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, had a message for them:

‘Climate finance progress outside of [the UNFCCC process] is equally crucial, and the G20’s role is mission-critical…the global climate crisis should be order of business Number One, in Rio next week.’

‘The [G20] Summit must send crystal clear global signals. That more grant and concessional finance will be available; that further reform of multilateral development banks is a top priority, and G20 governments – as their shareholders and taskmasters – will keep pushing for more reforms.’

• In Baku, with day six traditionally being the biggest protest day of the talks, activists planned actions that were echoed around the world. Demonstrators held up signs calling for more money to be pledged for climate finance which involves cash for transitioning to clean energy and adapting to climate change. While negotiators are trying to strike a deal for exactly that, progress has been slow and the direction of any agreement remains unclear (shock, horror).

Activists from countries spanning the globe have assembled in a long line at #COP29 with artwork and signs from throughout the conference, to show the connectedness of the climate crisis worldwide and urge world leaders to commit to a strong climate finance deal this year.… https://t.co/0BNoFdMJEb pic.twitter.com/raT0mB1xQA

— Oxfam International (@Oxfam) November 16, 2024

• Clearly (and understandably), finance dominated. But there was some adhering to the themes.

For one, brands, suppliers, investors, policy makers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) got together to address the fashion industry’s climate impact which, as we know, is downright catastrophic. Apparently, there was a discussion about key levers for transformation – namely clear policies that can enable companies to innovate and adopt sustainable models faster, bridging the gap between high-level goals and on-the-ground action. Whether this was in fact constructive or just yet another opportunity to greenwash the public, we aren’t sure.

There was also a dialogue highlighting the challenges and opportunities Indigenous Peoples face in leading transformational climate actions, emphasising support needed in the form of accessible, predictable and sustainable climate finance, among others.

• Oh, and one last thing. In an open letter to the UN Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the UN Framework  Convention on Climate Change, academics called for a complete reform of the COP process. You can check out their demands (all of them valid, of course) here.

Energy, Peace, and Relief & Recovery Day (Fri 15th Nov)

Day five involves a whole lot crammed into one. Can any of the quotas be filled with legit policy changes, or are we set for more procrastinating and emotive speeches? Stick with us.

• Lets start on a good note… SIKE!

• Europe is planning and building 80 gigawatts of fossil gas-fired power capacity, according to research from Beyond Fossil Fuels and Greenpeace. Half of this will come from Italy and Germany, while the third, the UK, has just been touting a ‘landmark’ reduction of national emissions. 

• A stock take of attendees shows that 1773 fossil fuel lobbyists are present at the summit right now. At least 132 oil and gas proprietors were invited specifically as ‘guests’ by the host nation’s government and given special badges. There’s such a thing as keeping your enemies too close, right?

• Graham Gordon, Christian Aid’s Head of Global Advocacy, said that ‘having fossil fuel lobbyists at a climate summit is like inviting a drug dealer to a rehab centre.’ It also explains the weak language being thrown around in policy discussions.

Finance, Investment and Trade Day (Thurs 14th Nov)

The Taliban are in the house

Today is all about working towards the touted goal of signing off on $1trn in climate finance per year. There is a significant distraction, though. What the hell is the Taliban doing sat at the negotiating table?

• Afghanistan may be one of the nations most affected by the impacts of climate change, but attendees and outside folk are obviously uncomfortable with the idea of mobilising funds for the Taliban. It adds a fresh dose of  lunacy to an already faltering summit.

• I wonder if the nation’s rich untapped deposits of rare Earth minerals will become a bargaining chip in the coming days and weeks.

More early procrastination

• Little reminder: the current policies in play will reportedly lead to 2.7°C of warming. ‘Minimal progress’ has been made this year in denting those projections, according to the Climate Action Tracker project.

• EU Parliament members vote to delay a landmark deforestation bill aimed at preventing the destruction of forests for supermarket goods. Greenpeace has called the move ‘absolutely shameful’ while the WWF lamented ‘political posturing over climate action.’ The bill is now, in theory, coming into effect in summer 2026.

Would you believe it, that’s all that’s worth reporting today. We’d hoped to hear how delegates are going to come together to facilitate the 1 trillion a year in needed climate finance.

Despite it being Finance Day, however, on that front it’s been pure radio silence. We’re as exasperated as you at this point. See you tomorrow… sigh.

World Leaders Climate Action Summit (Wed 13^th Nov)

‘What on earth are we doing in this gathering, over and over and over?’

It’s the second part of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit. That means global delegates will be taking the stage and reading speeches… riveting. Will today have a little more substance?

• Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, has clearly been stewing over the last couple days and decided to go off-script with his speech.

• ‘People there eat, drink, meet and take photos together – while images of voiceless leaders play on and on and on in the background,’ he said. ‘To me, this seems exactly like what happens in the real world every day. Life goes on, with its old habits, and our speeches – full of good words about fighting climate change – change nothing.’ Nail on the head!
  

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama slammed world leaders for not listening to each other’s speeches, adding that ‘good words’ spoken during the COP29 climate summit will not change anything https://t.co/o66xVOO1fo pic.twitter.com/X0iimOjlYn

— Reuters (@Reuters) November 13, 2024

• Argentina has withdrawn its delegation from the conference after just two days. Exactly what is in the offering remains up for debate, but several experts predict the nation is about to pull out of the Paris Agreement. Great.

Tempering expectations

• Campaigners are calling out ‘weak language’ already echoing around the room in finance discussions. Strong commitments are needed to help poorer nations adapt, but thus far the signs aren’t good.

• Brazil announced some changes to its NDCs, including  emission cuts of 59% to 67% by 2035. However, it remained awfully quiet on scaling up fossil fuels and its known plans of increasing their production by 36% in that same timeframe.

• Nuclear power is garnering some enthusiasm, as it did in the UAE last year. El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, and Turkey bring the total of nuclear signatories to 31. When is this going to start making an actual difference for all the big chat?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but day three has largely provided zilch (again). Au revoir to France and any chance of its participation.

World Leaders Climate Action Summit (Tues 12^th Nov)

Fossil fuels are a ‘gift from God.’

The first ludicrous soundbite has arrived before attendees could even finish their first eco-friendly coffee.

• Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyez, bizarrely told the summit earlier that fossil fuels are a ‘gift from God,’ during a rant about ‘Western fake news media’ criticising the host-nation’s reliance on oil and gas. He claims that Azerbaijan is responsible for just 0.1% of global emissions.

• UN chief Antoinio Guterres is always good for a rousing speech at these things. He called 2024 a ‘masterclass in climate destruction,’ citing extreme weather events like the floods in Valencia and Hurricane Milton in the US as being ‘supercharged’ by human-made climate change.

• He listed three priorities. Emergency emission reduction plans led by the G20, protecting the most vulnerable nations with hundreds of billions of dollars, and delivering the much-coveted ‘finance goal’ – which should be at last $1trn annually. What are the odds any of that happens?

• ‘The world must pay up, or humanity will pay the price,’ Guterres said. He then hammered home the point that all economies will be upended by the disruption to supply chain stocks. Shrewd… let’s see if the scare tactic is at all effective.

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a national target of 81% carbon emissions reduction by 2035. It’s apparently ‘the starting point, not the finish line.’ Cool, we’ll expect that to be honoured in its entirety at a minimum then!

• Cutting through the noise and waffle, the figures on the global displaced population make for grim reading. A UNHCR report found that three-quarters of the 120 million people are residing in regions experiencing ‘climate breakdown.’

That’s all of note for today. Let’s see if anyone delivers anything of substance tomorrow during the second half of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit.

COP29 begins (Mon 11^th Nov)

Delegates arrive, in short numbers

• Grim start. Many regular summit delegates from the developed nations won’t be attending over the coming fortnight. Our expectations were low, but damn!

• Donald Trump obviously isn’t going (nor does he even believe in climate change), Xi Jinping of China has made a habit of staying home during COP, Germany’s Olaf Scholz is preoccupied with his crumbling coalition, and France’s Emmanuel Macron is hunkered down is Paris – given the nation’s long-standing tetchy relations with Azerbaijan.

• EU Commission president Ursula von der Layen isn’t attending, either, meaning her cabinet of COP veterans, including ex Spanish environment minister Teresa Ribera, and former Danish environment minister Dan Jorgensen are waylaid in Brussels.

Lip service appetisers

• No surprises as of yet. The opening ceremony involved a lot of urgent talk about addressing climate change and global cooperation. We’ll see.
  

• The stage has been set for world leaders and ‘non-party’ stakeholders to discuss finance, global resource allocation, and adjusting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• Nothing much to report, yet. Check back tomorrow for more than handshakes and photo opportunities.

Day 1 at #COP29 is a wrap! 🌍

Over the next two weeks, delegates from 198 Parties will tackle critical climate issues at the world’s largest climate summit.

Much is at stake.

It’s time to stand and deliver. pic.twitter.com/AKu9i5G1Ry

— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) November 12, 2024