By: The GCJLab 2024 COP29 Cohort
What is COP29?
COP29, dubbed the “Finance COP”, will take place in November 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Previous COPs, or Conference of Parties meetings, bring together United Nations member states and resulted in our major climate treaties, the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Climate Agreement (2015). At this year’s annual talks, world leaders and environmental advocates will negotiation on several key issues in the fight against climate change, such as:
The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG)
A New Round of Climate Pledges, strengthening the promises and outcomes countries are making to reduce their emissions
The Loss and Damage Fund to deliver aid to climate-stricken developing countries
The Gender Action Plan, which aims to understand and mitigate the disproportionate impact of climate change on women
What is the Gibson Climate Justice Lab?
The Gibson Climate Justice Lab at the University of Southern California (USC) combines graduate and undergraduate research with experiential learning to advance curriculum and research on climate governance and climate justice issues.
Credit: Stefan Muller (Fridays for Future protest)
The Top 6 Issues We Are Watching:
1. Adopting a new, ambitious global climate finance goal.
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries decided to set a "new collective quantified goal on climate finance" (NCQG) to replace the existing goal of $100 billion per year. A goal that was not met on time and insufficient to start. To be truly effective, the NCQG must ramp up finance to the trillions, focus on mitigation and adaptation, and hold developed countries accountable for their historic responsibility as the top contributors to global climate change.
2. Moving from pledges into progress in the Loss and Damage Fund.
The Loss and Damage Fund, hailed as a key achievement of COP27 in 2022, aims to help developing countries recover from the irreversible impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and their long-term consequences. Hosted by the World Bank for a four-year period, the fund has secured $800 million in pledges, though the challenge lies in translating these commitments into usable resources. However, the fund's reliance on the World Bank has sparked concern, given the institution’s complicated relationship with the Global South and its track record with equitable financing.
3. Keeping 1.5ºC alive by demanding stronger climate pledges from member countries.
The previous round of national climate pledges, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), lay out individual country’s plans to help meet the 1.5 degree Paris Agreement target. Yet, the UN’s own assessment of these pledges, acknowledge that they are not enough.
As the world nears the 1.5ºC warming target, every 0.1ºC counts. It is crucial that the next round of NDCs, which are due to be submitted just months after COP29, increase the ambition of previous targets.
4. Reaffirming and putting into action a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
In a historic first, COP28’s landmark cover decision called for a ‘transition away from fossil fuels’, outlining critical steps to reduce fossil fuel dependence worldwide. The cover decision urges nations to scale up zero emission technology and renewable energy infrastructure while reducing fossil fuel and coal subsidies. A renewable energy transition is essential to both mitigation and climate resilience goals. Countries are expected to present their ramped-up transition pathways at COP29.
5. Prioritizing social equity in the just transition to Green economy.
A primary goal at the COP is expediting a “Just Transition,” a shift from the world’s current extractive, fossil fuel-heavy economy to a regenerative, inclusive green economy. Issues of transparency and inclusivity persist in Azerbaijan, where the COP is being held. There, climate activists, labor unions, women’s groups, Indigenous peoples, and youth are advocating for a transition that is not only sustainable but also equitable — ensuring that those most affected by climate change and the shift to a green economy have a say in shaping their futures.
6. Advancing climate equality through a gender-based approach.
The climate crisis disproportionately impacts women and girls, particularly in vulnerable communities around the world. A gender-responsive grassroots approach is critical to addressing these inequities by integrating diverse perspectives into climate policy and decision-making. Women must have access to resources, leadership opportunities, and decision-making spaces that address the unique challenges they have historically faced.
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