Countdown to COP29: What to expect

With less than 50 days to go, this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP29)  is fast approaching. This landmark event is set to be a critical moment in the global fight against climate change, with a focus on several key sustainability areas. It will be a key moment for leaders to make real, meaningful progress on their sustainability strategies and commitments. 

COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev recently sent his first official letter to the conference’s parties and constituencies and made it clear that we need an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to successfully accelerate sustainable development. With this in mind, keep reading as we share everything you need to know about COP29, including the agenda and what to expect from the summit.

What is COP29? 

COP29 is the 29th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is a crucial global summit where representatives from governments, the private sector, and civil society gather to discuss and negotiate efforts to tackle climate change. 

The primary focus of these annual conferences is to review and improve the implementation of the Paris Agreement and other global agreements surrounding climate action. At the summits, countries present their progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and work to create new strategies for addressing the climate crisis on a global scale. 

Where will COP29 take place? 

This year’s COP will likely concentrate on assessing progress towards the Paris Agreement objectives, addressing emerging environmental challenges, and improving climate finance. It is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from the 11th of November to the 22nd of November 2024. 

Key themes and agenda items 

The COP29 Presidency has now published its two-week agenda and the theme for each of the days. Below is a summary of the schedule: 

• November 11: Opening Ceremony – Azerbaijan assumes the COP Presidency.
• November 12-13: World Leaders Climate Action Summit – Focus on raising ambition for climate mitigation, adaptation, and addressing Loss and Damage.
• November 14: Finance, Investment, and Trade – Scaling up climate finance and promoting sustainable investments and technologies with events on just transition, green jobs, and a Climate Finance Action Fund launch.
• November 15: Energy / Peace, Relief, and Recovery – Addressing the role of energy in emissions and the connection between climate action and peace.
• November 16: Science, Technology, and Innovation / Digitalisation – Promoting sustainable digital transformation while mitigating environmental impacts.
• November 18: Human Development / Children, Youth, Health, Education – Focusing on climate resilience through education, jobs, and youth engagement.
• November 19: Food, Water, and Agriculture – Tackling food security and agriculture in relation to climate change.
• November 20: Urbanisation / Transport / Tourism – Addressing climate challenges in urban areas and launching initiatives in green construction, transport, and tourism.
• November 21: Indigenous Peoples / Gender Equality / Nature and Biodiversity / Oceans and Coastal Zones – Promoting Indigenous-led climate action, gender equality, and nature-based solutions.
• November 22: Final Negotiations – Negotiations between Parties.

What to expect from COP29 

Below are some of the key things COP29 attendees can expect from the summit. 

Ambitious climate targets

Countries will likely be called upon to improve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target, focusing on mitigation and adaptation strategies. The summit may also push for long-term emission development strategies. 

Increased focus on the Loss and Damage Fund

The Loss and Damage Fund was formalised at COP27 in 2022, a financial mechanism to help vulnerable countries deal with the severe impacts of climate change that they were unable to avoid or mitigate. 

It is expected that there will be a strong focus on operationalising this fund at COP29 to assist these countries in coping with the impacts of climate change. This includes financial commitments from developed nations to support climate resilience in the Global South. 

Private sector engagement

Attendees can expect the topic of private sector engagement to be a prominent one at this year’s COP summit. In particular, how to get the private sector increasingly involved with climate finance.

The conference will likely explore how businesses and investors can play a larger role in driving sustainability through green investments, sustainable supply chains, and job creation in low-carbon sectors. 

Focus on key sectors

COP29 will feature a range of themed days from urbanisation to agriculture, transport, and tourism. These sectors will be highlighted, with actionable steps to decarbonise them. Sustainable finance, circular economy, and energy transition strategies will also likely be explored at the summit. 

Support for Indigenous and vulnerable communities

Another area the conference will likely look at is how to prioritise support for Indigenous communities and gender equality in climate action, recognising their vital role in preserving biodiversity and driving nature-based solutions. 

Final thoughts

As COP29 approaches, the world faces a defining opportunity to accelerate climate action and address pressing sustainability challenges. With a comprehensive agenda, the summit will bring together global leaders, businesses, and civil society to tackle critical themes—from advancing climate finance to supporting vulnerable and Indigenous communities.

Importantly, COP29 builds on the progress made at previous summits, such as COP16 in Cancun, which laid the groundwork for significant milestones like the Green Climate Fund. Now is the time for decisive action. COP29 offers an unparalleled opportunity for nations, businesses, and communities to unite, implement sustainable strategies, and shape a more resilient, low-carbon future for all.