Did Baku’s Climate COP29 deliver?

Global leaders, climate policymakers, and other stakeholders like the private sector representatives, youth, and civil society, gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11th to 22nd November 2024 for the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The spotlight was once again on the climate crisis, a review of the commitments and actions of countries, and setting an agenda for more ambitious climate actions. This year’s COP was crucial in setting a new financial goal, clarifying details of the work defining indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). Other critical tracks also held high stakes beyond the central discussions on climate finance, adaptation, and carbon markets. These included advancing gender equality, youth involvement, and inclusivity in climate action. Topics like women and youth-led climate adaptation, gender-sensitive water security policies, and enhancing marginalized groups’ participation in capacity development were pivotal in ensuring that climate solutions are just and inclusive.

Such discussions highlighted the importance of involving vulnerable groups not only as participants but as leaders in testing, adapting, and scaling climate-smart technologies and policies. COP29 was also set to fully operationalize the Paris Agreement by finalizing details on Article 6 which pertains to carbon markets. Countries are doing all this amidst geopolitically challenging times exacerbated by the ongoing wars in Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East.  Meanwhile, climate crises across the globe such as severe droughts and devastating floods in many parts of Africa, cyclones in South Asia, and wildfires across the United States underscore the urgency of ambitious and effective efforts. These challenges demand rapid adaptation to escalating climate impacts, deeper emission reductions, and increased provision of support and resources to enable meaningful climate action.

While COP29 yielded several progressive agreements, some critical issues remained unresolved. The question persists: Did the conference succeed in driving global climate action forward, or were its promises more rhetorical than reality?