A panel of six people, 3 women and 3 men, with the COP29 logo
Photo credit  |  The COP29 Presidency Team

UK at COP29 – Azerbaijan, November 11th-22nd, 2024

S4C@COP  |  07 November, 2024

Our round-up of UK and S4C Members’ activities at COP29 in Baku

COP29 – The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – is being hosted by Azerbaijan in its capital, Baku.

Members of Space4Climate will be playing active roles at COP29, from contributing to the negotiations process to hosting or being involved in events in Baku.

UK Space Agency

A small delegation from the UK Space Agency will be in Baku, including Space4Climate Chair Beth Greenaway, Head of EO and Climate at UKSA. Their focus will be delivering the CEOS statement, holding behind the scenes conversations with international space agencies and promoting  discussions of methane monitoring and measuring standards towards an international agreement in 2030.

The delegation will be in Baku from November 11th – the opening day of the World Summit negotiations and Earth Information Day – until November 16th.

UK Pavilion, Blue Zone

The UK Pavilion in the Blue Zone – open to world leaders and climate policy negotiators – will spotlight Space4Climate’s work with an iconic British red telephone box! The UK’s European Space Agency Reserve Astronaut, Meganne Christian, has recorded a message about our role in the UK Earth Observation community for stand visitors to hear when they lift the receiver.

S4C Members at COP29

Follow Space4Climate on LinkedIn for regular updates during COP29 and find out more about our members’ activities and events below. (All times are local times in Baku, which is 4 hours ahead of GMT):

Monday, November 11th, Earth Information Day, 13:00-16:00 Blue Zone

The opening day of COP29 is also Earth Information Day, a platform for dialogue, exchanging information on the state of the global climate system and advancements in systematic observation. The UK Space Agency will be joining international representatives in the Blue Zone, showcasing climate science and Earth Observation data, contributing to the discussions and promoting the value of satellite data in underpinning climate action for the benefit of our planet and society.

After receiving updates on the state of the climate breakout groups will discuss:

    1. Observations for climate change mitigation
    2. Observations for climate change adaptation
    3. Observations for averting, minimizing, addressing loss and damage, and strengthening resilience to extreme events including heat stress
    4. Advanced technologies, innovation and digital transformation for Earth Observation
    5. Enhancing observation in critical ecosystems and vulnerable regions

Space4Climate Chair, Beth Greenaway, Head of Earth Observation and Climate at the UK Space Agency, is the designated expert for Breakout Session 3. Patrick Gibson, Earth Observation Climate lead at UKSA, will be supporting Breakout Group 5.

Read more: https://unfccc.int/event/earth-information-day-2024-mandated-event

 

Monday, November 11th, CEOS CGMS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites – Coordination Group or Meteorological Satellites) Statement, 17:00 Blue Zone

The UK Space Agency, as Chair of CEOS, will deliver the CEOS CGMS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites – Coordination Group or Meteorological Satellites) Statement to the UN Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Committee.

 

Thursday, November 14th, Shared Risks, Shared Solutions: Addressing Transboundary Climate Risks Via Shared Adaptation Actions. Walker Institute, University of Reading, Blue Zone Side Event Room 7, 18:30-20:00

Walker Institute is bringing together political leaders, scientists, civil society and non-state actors to reflect on the transboundary climate risks in South Asia and Middle East region. The session will highlight the importance of transboundary cooperation in identifying durable, mutually beneficial adaptation solutions and demonstrate, using specific cases, how such transboundary cooperation is being mobilised – including in conflict-affected regions, to accelerate cooperative adaptation action and policy making.

Walker is collaborating on the event with the Integrated Research & Action for Development (IRADe), supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

A community of international scientists will evidence working together to ensure adaptation actions deliver co-benefits across borders and will be sharing actions and approaches for enhancing  both early warning systems and longer term transboundary adaptation responses.

The event will hear from speakers Prof Rosalind Cornforth, Director, Walker Institute, University of Reading, and Rohit Magotra, Deputy Director, Integrated Research & Action for Development (IRADe), India, chaired by Dr David Potter, Strategic Group Lead, ICIMOD, Nepal.

Then a panel, chaired by Elizabeth Sellwood, Senior Programme Manager, UN Environment Programme, will feature:

    • Zonibel Woods, Senior Social Development Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Philippines
    • Krishna Vats, Member, National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA, India
    • Ruba Ajjour, Manager of Climate Change Studies; Royal Scientific Society, Jordan
    • Sachin Kumar, Director of Industry, Building and Cooling, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, India

Full details here: https://walker.reading.ac.uk/event/side-event-cop29-14-nov-2024/

More on Walker and COP29 here.

 

Thursday, November 14th, Ocean-Climate-Society: Multisector approach for mitigation, adaptation, finance & capacity building. Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Blue Zone Side Event Room 9, 18:30-20:00

S4C members Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) lead this discussion on the impacts of climate change on ocean ecosystems and coastal communities and  available adaptation and mitigation actions. It will show examples of adaptation, governance and finance framework opportunities, including the Global South, collaboration and ocean integration in the UNFCCC.

Ocean ecosystems & coastal communities are being impacted by climate change, but the ocean also offers adaptation & mitigation actions.
Moderator: Matt Frost, Head of the International Office, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Chair UK National (Ocean) Decade Committee, Chair UK Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership & its Overseas Working Group.

High Level Address:
• Niall O’Dea, Co-Facilitator of the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue, Senior Assistant Deputy
Minister of Strategic Policy at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – Integration of the ocean across the
UNFCCC processes and summary of the mandated UN Ocean & Climate Change Dialogue
• Regina Rodrigues, representing Brazil’s Ministry of Environment, Associate Professor of Physical
Oceanography Federal University of Santa Catarina and Chair of the Climate Disasters Section of the
Brazilian Network for Climate Change Research – The Brazilian Agenda for the Oceans

Panel:
• Liva Kaugure, Natural resources Officer in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment – Capacity building in support of climate
resilient fisheries and aquaculture
• Constance Chalcate, BNP Paribas Corporate and Institutional Banking Chief Sustainability Officer –
Opportunities for the financial sector to scale up innovations for a sustainable ocean and develop
the blue economy
• Torsten Thiele, Founder, Global Ocean Trust – How to mobilise finance for capacity building
• Deborah Greaves, Decarbonisation & ORE Centre, Plymouth University – Offshore Renewable Energy:
2040 Outlook
• Maddie Millington-Drake, Blue Marine Foundation – Blue Thread: Aligning Climate and Biodiversity
National Strategies
Followed by a Q&A with the audience

 

Saturday, November 16th Space Leaders’ Summit, Blue Zone

Space4Climate Chair, Beth Greenaway, Head of Earth Observation and Climate at the UK Space Agency, will give a short presentation on UK space activities relating to climate monitoring, measuring and action. Panel sessions on space and how it can help to address climate change will include representatives from the European Space Agency and the session will be aiming to commit to a shared Space Summit Pledge.

 

Saturday, November 16th, Advancing Cooperation to Address Transboundary Climate Risks: Experiences of Joint Adaptation Planning and Shared Action. Led by UNEP with Walker Institute at University of Reading and the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan (RSS), UNEP Pavilion, Blue Zone, 13:00-15:00

Speakers will highlight the importance of transboundary cooperation in identifying durable, mutually beneficial adaptation solutions. They will demonstrate, using specific cases from the Middle East and South Caucasus, how such transboundary cooperation is currently being mobilised – building on science-based climate risk assessments facilitated by the UN.

Following interventions by country practitioners, an experienced international adaptation expert will summarise how science is being translated into adaptation policy in such contexts using innovative approaches to address climate risk.

Participants will consider the role of local, national and multilateral actors including the United Nations in advancing cooperation through facilitating science-based assessment, convening parties at different levels and mobilizing transboundary adaptation action. Speakers TBC.

More on Walker and COP29 here: https://walker.reading.ac.uk/cop29/

 

Virtual Ocean Pavilion, November 6th-22nd

Registration is open for this popular free online platform linked to COPs since COP26 in Glasgow. It is presented by our members PML and Global Ocean Forum,  and will showcase why the ocean matters in climate negotiations and to all life on Earth. Join for online access to live ocean events, panels, round tables and interviews with experts. More here.

COP29 Ambitions

Azerbaijan’s plan for the COP Presidency is focused on two pillars:

    • Enhance Ambition combines key elements to ensure all parties commit to ambitious national plans and transparency.
    • Enable Action reflects the role of finance to turn ambition into action and reduce emissions, adapt to climate change and address loss and damage.

The UK takes over the Chair of the Community on Earth Observation Satellites this autumn and will be delivering the CEOS statement at COP29.

Traditionally every other year of the world climate summit is more low key and UK activities and ambitions are already being discussed for COP30 in Brazil in 2025. International standardisation of methane monitoring are a key UK and CEOS ambition and the ground is likely to be prepared in Azerbaijan for COP30.

Read more here: https://cop29.az/en

 COP29 Daily Themes

November 11 COP29 Opening
November 12 World Leaders Climate Action Summit and Earth Information Day
November 13 World Leaders Climate Action Summit
November 14 Finance, Investment and Trade
November 15 Energy / Peace, Relief and Recovery
November 16 Science, Technology and Innovation / Digitalisation
November 17 Rest Day and No Thematic Programming
November 18 Human Capital / Children and Youth / Health / Education
November 19 Food, Agriculture and Water
November 20 Urbanisation / Transport / Tourism
November 21 Nature and Biodiversity / Indigenous People / Gender Equality / Oceans and Coastal Zones
November 22 Final Negotiations

COP29’s finance goals

Climate Finance is tipped as the headline issue in Azerbaijan next month. The Carbon Trust’s Net Zero Intelligence Unit looks at what needs to take place to fulfil the potential of ’The Finance COP’. Read the article here.

Connect with SIDS and the small islands agenda

If you work with or alongside businesses, utilities and governments from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) you can prepare for Baku through Island Voices @ COP29. As well as organising and attending events in person, the network will be offering online news and remote activities. Find out more.

Useful updates and sources of information on plans for COP29

Practical information & FAQs – https://cop29.az/en

Ed Miliband, Energy, Security & Net Zero Secretary of State to lead UK COP29 negotiations –https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/15/ed-miliband-lead-uk-negotiations-cop29-climate-summit

COP29 President’s letter outlining key negotiation ambitions, pre-COP events to move towards these ambitions and more – https://cop29.az/en/news/letter-to-parties-and-constituencies

Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform (BTP)

Azerbaijan launched this new platform at its pre-COP High-Level Dialogue to raise the ambition of member countries’ Biennial Transparency Reports, including by helping to build capacity in developing countries to complete them. The deadline for completing the BTPs is December 31st but Azerbaijan is encouraging countries to submit them before COP. The aim of the BTRs is to be able to build trust in tracking progress of national climate plans, and identify areas where further action and investment are needed. Read more.

COP29 will have its own TV channel

The Daily Show will be broadcast live from a studio in the Baku COP29 venue.  A UK media company, Hi Impact, is producing the channel, aimed at mainstream audiences. Coverage will include in-depth interviews, expert analysis and programmes to make COP29’s complex scientific and climate content more accessible. Find out more.

Climate action pledge signed to help SIDS

The Commonwealth Secretariat and COP29 hosts the Government of Azerbaijan have signed a joint declaration to enhance climate action in Small Developing Island States (SIDS) and other vulnerable Commonwealth countries. The pledge includes a memorandum of understanding between Azercosmos (Azerbaijan Space Agency) and the Commonwealth Secretariat to use geospatial information  to support climate action across the Commonwealth. The signing took place in Tonga where the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting was held. Read more.

Read about Space4Climate at COP28 and COP26

@COP29 – useful social media accounts

LinkedIn:

COP29 Azerbaijan:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/cop29azerbaijan/

High-Level Climate Champions:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/climatechampions/

British Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/british-chamber-of-commerce-azerbaijan/

Syed Ali, COP29 UK Pavilion Digital Lead at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/syedali2326/

Katie Orr, COP29 UK Pavilion Delivery lead:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-orr-614910173/

X/Twitter:

Main Azerbaijan COP29 account: @COP29_AZ https://x.com/COP29_AZ

DESNZ: @energygovuk https://x.com/energygovuk/status/1842184234384982444

DSIT: @SciTechgovuk https://x.com/SciTechgovuk

CEOS: @CEOSdotORG https://x.com/CEOSdotORG

UKSA CEO @paul_bate https://x.com/paul_bate

UK Climate Minister Ed Miliband: @Ed_Miliband https://x.com/Ed_Miliband/status/1842104184218288495

UK Special Representative on Climate Rachel Kyte @rkyte365 https://x.com/rkyte365  

High-Level Climate Champions: @hlcchampions https://x.com/hlcchampions

Chair of APPG on Climate MP Luke Murphy: @LukeMLabour https://x.com/LukeMLabour

Carbon Brief:  @CarbonBrief https://x.com/CarbonBrief

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