2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29)

Date
11.11.24 > 22.11.24
Time
12:00 am > 12:00 am UTC+04:00
Location
Baku, Azerbaijan

The 29th Conference of the Parties the UN Convention on Climate Change will be held from the 11–22 November, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.

COP29, like its predecessors, will focus on advancing the goals of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including efforts to limit global warming, adapt to the impacts of climate change, and mobilize financing for these activities.

CGIAR’s Food and Agriculture Pavilion

CGIAR will host the Food and Agriculture Pavilion at COP29 in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). For more information, click on the link below.

Food and Agriculture Pavilion website

Schedule of Events

This list will be continually updated. All times are in Gulf Standard Time (GST).

Key:

UNFCC Official Event

Other Events

Time

Location

Event

CGIAR Participation

17:30 – 18:00

MDB Joint Pavilion I-10

Scaling Innovative Food Systems Solutions and Climate Actions for Food and Nutrition Security in Asia and the Pacific (Asian Development Bank)

This session will feature ADB’s partnerships for food systems transformation and launch a new cooperation arrangement with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. It will be followed by a high-level panel discussion on how ADB can catalyze strong partnerships with governments, the private sector, farming communities, and development partners to scale up evidence-based innovative food systems solutions and climate action through this new initiative.

Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
08:30 – 09:00	German Pavilion	MSC Food Security – Breakfast Discussion The way food systems currently function is inherently unsustainable and fuels climate change, environmental degradation, diseases, and persistent hunger. In this closed-door high-level breakfast discussion, members of the MSC Food Security Task Force will come together with other stakeholders from various sectors for an interactive debate on the economic benefits of building climate-resilient, sustainable food systems. Part of the discussion will be how to formulate a convincing economic argument for investing in a food systems transformation that would further both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
10:00 – 14:00	Meeting Room 03, Zone C	Article 6.8 In-session Workshop This in-session workshop brings together Parties and non-Party stakeholders to exchange information on current or planned NMAs, reflect on support available / needed for strengthening NMAs, and discuss best practices and lessons learned from identifying, developing and implementing NMAs. As no NMAs have yet been submitted to the NMA Platform, the secretariat requested expressions of interest from Parties and non-Party stakeholders to present at the workshop.	Eliza J. Villarino, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT
11:30 – 12:30	Blue Zone	Opening session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
14:30 – 15:30	Meeting Room MR23, Zone D	Cutting Carbon, Adapting Food Systems and Restoring Nature on the Path to 1.5⁰C	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
21:00 – 22:00	Goals House, Mugam Klub	Disruptive technologies for food and water security. CGIAR co-host with Community Jameel	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
11:30 – 12:30	Earth Conference Room, Green Zone	Climate Justice and Equity c/o COP29 Presidency	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
14:30 – 15:30	Meeting Room 22	Land degradation and climate change: Losses, Damages and Opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the countries of Central Asia, the Caucasus and regions with arid climates	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
10:30 – 11:30	SHARE Hub Pavilion	Communities at the Forefront: Realities of Human Mobility Impacted by Climate Change and the Role of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage	Frans Schapendonk, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT
12:00 – 13:00	Action for Food Hub Pavilion	Fireside Chat: Unlocking Climate Finance for a Resilient Agrifood Future: how can we bridge the $500 billion gap?	Pedro Chilambe, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT
13:00 – 14:30	UNDP Pavilion	Transparency, Innovation, and Regulatory Reform to address the Nexus of Forced Labor and Damaging Environmental Impacts Creating transparency in supply chains (e.g., mandatory reporting, supply chain audits and ethical sourcing standards, etc). Fostering innovation with emphasis on industry, NGOs and government officials to drive technology to enhance supply chain visibility and traceability. Advocating for regulatory reform.	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
15:00 – 16:30	Side Event 9	Transparent monitoring: Driving accountability and equity by leveraging local data Transparent monitoring is key for accountability & equity in combating climate change, deforestation & land degradation. This session will share insights from experts & countries on impact of transparent data on policy development, and how local data contribute to increase the ambition of the NDCs.	Eliza J. Villarino, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
09:05 – 09:40	Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard	Leading the Charge: ACF’s Progress on Food Systems Transformation Agri-Food Systems Summit Opening session.	CGIAR
14:30 – 15:00	Karabakh, Area D	New UNHCR report – No Escape: On the Frontlines of Climate Change, Conflict and Displacement	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
10:00 – 11:00	Climate Mobility Pavilion	Voices on the Move: Addressing Human Mobility and Climate Change in Latin America	Frans Schapendonk, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT
12:00 – 13:00	ICESCO’s Pavilion	Climate Change, Agriculture and Technology Innovation Nexus – Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture: Predictive Modeling Insights The impact of climate change on agriculture is becoming increasingly evident across the globe, especially in regions that are already vulnerable to environmental stresses. Innovative technologies offer a pathway to accelerate adaptation and build resilience in agriculture. This event will facilitate discussions on cutting-edge technological advancements, explore how these solutions can be scaled up for the benefit of farmers, communities, and policymakers in regions vulnerable to climate change, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to develop comprehensive solutions.	Vinay Nangia, ICARDA
13:00 – 14:00	UAE Pavilion, Blue Zone	Partnering to Create AI-based Public Goods for One Billion+ Smallholders The event focuses on the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting smallholder farmers, specifically through the development of open-access large-language models (LLMs) designed to enhance agricultural research, extension services, and decision-making.	Khuloud Odeh, CGIAR Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
15:00 – 16:00	NGIC Pavilion	Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Climate Solutions: Enhancing International Collaboration for a Sustainable Future This event will unite stakeholders from various sectors to explore how science, technology, and innovation, including nuclear technology, can enhance global climate efforts across mitigation, adaptation, and monitoring. With current policies projected to lead to global warming of 2.8°C, significantly exceeding the Paris Agreement’s target, the need for rapid transformation toward net-zero emissions is urgent. By showcasing advanced technologies—from resilient crop development and pollution monitoring to disease control—the event emphasizes the potential of international collaboration and increased support for R&D. Key objectives include strengthening data access, boosting international cooperation, expanding R&D capacity, and mobilizing public-private funding for impactful climate solutions.	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
Whole day	Radisson Baku	Development and Climate Days 2024: Turning climate ambition into action – confronting uncomfortable truths This session seeks to move beyond the ‘climate change as a threat multiplier’ narrative to better understand what climate action means in fragile and conflict-affected settings. It will explore questions such as how can climate action address or exacerbate underlying drivers of fragility, conflict and violence? What challenges do actors in FCV settings face in accessing climate finance? And can climate action generate peace co-benefits?	Sara Rabie, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
12:00 – 13:00	Green Zone	AgriFuture 2024 Event – Women, Youth & Innovation in Climate-Resilient Agriculture The “AgriFuture 2024” event, hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan in partnership with FAO and CGIAR, will gather government representatives, development partners, researchers, and farmers to explore strategies that address drought challenges, foster community adaptation, and enhance the involvement of the private sector in climate action. Through interactive discussions, participants will share successful case studies, identify best practices, and develop actionable strategies to contribute to regional and global resilience. The event’s aim is to empower women, youth, and innovators to lead climate-resilient agriculture. It brings together key stakeholders to collaborate on strategies that enhance gender equity, foster innovation, and promote sustainable agricultural practices in response to climate challenges.	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA Akmal Akramkhanov, ICARDA
13:15 – 14:45	TBC	Animal health, mitigation, and adaptation: Innovative financing for sustainable livestock development Livestock production systems differ markedly between countries and agroecological contexts, but improving animal health through tailored actions can have significant impacts on emission reductions and livestock keeper adaptation. We will show how climate finance can help achieve these wins.	ILRI
13:15 – 14:45	TBC	Responding to Displacement-Related Loss and Damage through Inclusive Data, Finance and Action Efforts to address displacement must be central to loss and damage, as displaced communities and those at risk of being displaced are often most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Panelists will share perspectives on how best to include communities in preventing and responding to loss and damage.	IWMI
15:30 – 16:30	Senegal Pavillion	Unveiling the Climate-Smart Governance Dashboard: Empowering Data-Driven Decision-Making for a Resilient Future This side event will have pre-launch the Climate-Smart Governance Dashboard jointly developed by IWMI and DEEC, an innovative tool designed to assist nations in planning and implementing climate-resilient policies. The dashboard provides access to critical climate-related data, including hazard information, vulnerability assessments, climate scenarios, and project tracking tools. By integrating this data, Senegal can make informed decisions to enhance their climate resilience and achieve their national climate goals. The event will feature presentations from dashboard application and early adopters, showcasing its functionality and potential impact. Participants will engage in discussions on how to leverage the dashboard for effective climate action and explore potential partnerships for its wider adoption.	IWMI CGIAR
16:45 – 18:15	TBC	Aquatic foods for climate action: Showcasing solutions to increase ambition Evidence is building on the importance of aquatic foods for climate mitigation and adaptation. This event will feature high-level speakers from national governments and regional organizations to showcase aquatic food climate solutions and spur further action and investment into this critical area.	IWMI
16:00 – 18:00	Room 2	Aquatic foods for climate action: Showcasing solutions to increase ambition (Side Events Room 2)	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
09:30 – 10:30	Room SE 3, Hirkan	Science and Innovation for Low Emission and Resilient Food Systems The Science and Innovation Session at COP29’s Food and Agriculture Day will spotlight science and innovation as essential drivers of the transformation toward sustainable, low-emission agrifood systems.	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
10:00 – 10:45	WGEO Pavilion	Climate-Smart Sustainable Agricultural Practices for Climate-Resilience Agriculture is a sector that is highly vulnerable to climate change, with impacts on food security, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Climate-smart agriculture practices can help to enhance resilience to climate change while ensuring food production and rural livelihoods. Recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)1 highlight the importance of climate-smart agriculture in mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts. Climate-smart agriculture practices encompass a range of strategies that can improve agricultural productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance resilience to climate change. These practices include conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, water management, agroforestry and livestock management. The event will discuss key elements of climate-smart agriculture that can significantly improve resilience to climate change.	Vinay Nangia, ICARDA
10:00 – 12:00	US Center, Blue Zone	AIM for Climate: Mobilizing Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Innovation for a Food Secure Future	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
11:00 – 11:45	WGEO Pavilion	Innovative and integrated water management solutions This event focuses on water scarcity and pollution as increasingly pressing global challenges, exacerbated by climate change and population growth. Integrated water management (IWM) offers a comprehensive approach to addressing these issues by promoting sustainable water use, protecting water resources, and improving water quality. Recent reports by the United Nations1 highlight the growing water crisis and the need for innovative solutions. IWM can help to ensure that water resources are used efficiently and equitably, while also protecting ecosystems and promoting sustainable development.	Vinay Nangia, ICARDA
11:30 – 12:30	Green Zone, D10	Climate, Trade, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Opportunities for International Cooperation That Is Ambitious, Effective and Fair Alongside COP29, this session at the Trade and Investment House Pavilion explored pathways for greater international cooperation on trade and sustainable agriculture to support achieving the Paris Agreement’s climate goals, nature-positive agri-food supply chains, and sustainable development.	James Stapleton, CGIAR
12:00 – 13:00	ICESCO’s Pavilion	Climate Change, Agriculture and Technology Innovation Nexus – Integrating Permaculture & Predictive Modelling for Climate-resilient Agriculture The impact of climate change on agriculture is becoming increasingly evident across the globe, especially in regions that are already vulnerable to environmental stresses. Innovative technologies offer a pathway to accelerate adaptation and build resilience in agriculture. This event will facilitate discussions on cutting-edge technological advancements, explore how these solutions can be scaled up for the benefit of farmers, communities, and policymakers in regions vulnerable to climate change, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to develop comprehensive solutions.	Vinay Nangia, ICARDA
12:30 – 13:00	Press Room 1 – Karabakh, Area D, Blue Zone	Press conference – Food Systems Transformation: Progress since COP28 Last year’s Climate Summit finally put food on the climate agenda: the UAE food systems declaration committed 160 governments to integrating food and agriculture in their climate plans ahead of COP30, billions of dollars were pledged to support food systems adaptation and mitigation, and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation published the first ever roadmap to zero hunger and 1.5C. This press briefing will explore what progress has been made since – and what more needs to be achieved by COP30 to transform our food systems.	CGIAR Delegation
13:00 – 14:00	Conference Room, Mugham	From Global Goals to Local Action: Regional initiatives to strengthen resilient agrifood systems	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
17:00 – 18:15	Moroccan Pavilion	Fast adoption of resilient farming practices under Green Generation 2020–2030, Challenges and Opportunities	Rachid Moussadek, ICARDA
17:30 – 18:30	Room SE 3, Hirkan	Enhancing NDC 3.0 agrifood system climate ambition and action The event serves as dialogue between different stakeholders on how to accelerate climate ambition and action in agrifood systems through the NDC 3.0 process, building on tried-and-tested experiences to date on NDC implementation and enhancement and leveraging new and forward-looking financial and technical support being made available from a wide range of resource partners.	CGIAR Delegation

Time	Location	Event	CGIAR Participation
09:00 – 11:30	Marriot Baku	3rd AIM for Climate Ministerial	Ismahane Elouafi, CGIAR
11:30 – 12:30	Pakistan Pavilion	Climate Change, Agriculture and Technology Innovation Nexus – Technologies for accelerating rapid adaptation in agriculture to climate change The impact of climate change on agriculture is becoming increasingly evident across the globe, especially in regions that are already vulnerable to environmental stresses. Innovative technologies offer a pathway to accelerate adaptation and build resilience in agriculture. This event will facilitate discussions on cutting-edge technological advancements, explore how these solutions can be scaled up for the benefit of farmers, communities, and policymakers in regions vulnerable to climate change, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to develop comprehensive solutions.	Vinay Nangia, ICARDA
14:00 – 15:00	Senegal Pavilion	Presentation of Senegal’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan at COP29 in Baku To address this climate change, the Ministry of Agriculture in Senegal has set up a multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral framework, the CCASA platform, to address this issue while relying on policy documents such as Senegal’s National Strategy for Systemic Transformation (SNTSS); the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the National Plan for the Adaptation of Agriculture in Senegal (PNA), the Senegalese Food Sovereignty Strategy (SSAS), the Sectoral Policy Letter for the Development of Agriculture (LPSDA). In this context, the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is essential to better integrate agricultural development and responses to climate challenges. CSA aims to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, strengthen farmers’ resilience and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, through innovative adaptation and mitigation options. Senegal’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan (CSAIP) was developed as part of the “Accelerating the Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa ” (AICCRA) project, funded by the World Bank. This collaborative approach, coordinated by the Alliance Bioversity International-CIAT and the CCASA Platform, involves the participation of various actors in the agricultural sector and benefits from the expertise of the AICCRA project. Designed under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Sovereignty (MASAE), with an active contribution from experts from the CCASA platform, the CSAIP validated during a workshop on September 27, 2024 in Diamniadio, will be shared at COP 29 in Baku.	Issa Ouedraogo, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT
16:45 – 18:15	TBC	Just Transition Pathways to achieve Paris Agreement goals in the agri-food sector The side event convenes governments, negotiators, farmers, researchers, and development partners to showcase and explore options for practical and robust just transition pathways needed to achieve successful NDC 3.0, NAPS and long-term low emission development pathways.	CGIAR
16:45 – 18:15	TBC	Updating NDCs for more ambitious climate change mitigation and adaptation in rice, soil, and livestock Climate action on rice, livestock and soil are major opportunities for climate change mitigation and food system resilience, but current NDCs fall short of targets. This event will provide in-depth analysis of NDCs to identify opportunities & challenges for climate change adaptation & mitigation, including reduction of methane.	The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT
18:30 – 20:00	TBC	Put your money where your mouth is: Commitments and investments to reach net-zero agriculture Net-zero agriculture will require substantial commitments and investments from all sectors. The event will focus on how to scale up regenerative and low-emission agriculture practices in transparent ways and unlock climate finance for future food and climate security.	IRRI

Time

Location

Event

CGIAR Participation

11:00 – 12:30

TBC

Gender, youth and social inclusion for climate action and food, land and water system transformation

A pivotal discussion on the role of gender equality, youth, and inclusivity in advancing system transformation amid climate challenges. This session will facilitate discussion on three critical areas:

1. Women and Youth-Led Climate Adaptation: Climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups like women, youth, and minorities, but their unique experiences are crucial to adaptation efforts. Including them in testing, adoption and scaling up climate-smart technologies and policies ensures more comprehensive, just, and effective climate action.

2. Inclusive Policies for Water Security: Delve into the need for strengthening gender- and socially inclusive policies that ensure future water security, identifying key systemic barriers and strategic roadmaps to overcome them.

3. Participation of Women and Minorities in Capacity Development: Examine the challenges and opportunities for enhancing the involvement of women and minorities in climate capacity development programs, fostering a more equitable approach to climate action.

Nicoline de Haan, CGIAR
Byron Reyes, The Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT

14:00 – 15:30

TBC

A dialogue on the evidence base for equitable and inclusive capacity building for climate action

Capacity building has long been understood as an important means of implementation for action on climate change under the UNFCCC, and is a mainstay of investment and international cooperation. The 2024 Adaptation Gap Report contains the first-ever global assessment of capacity building needs for adaptation. However, even with this improved evidence base for understanding capacity building needs and approaches, significant evidence gaps remain, especially around the gendered and intersectional dimensions of capacity building. The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, GRA, and the University of Galway have conducted an innovative study designed to better understand, reflect on, and challenge gender norms and roles that may limit young women and men from fully engaging in climate action training programs or deriving maximum benefit from them. With two new studies as a starting point, this session will facilitate a cross-scale dialogue intended to identify future priorities and innovative practices to drive equitable and inclusive capacity building for adaptation.