The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024.
This conference represents a critical opportunity to drive forward urgent action against the climate crisis. With global temperatures reaching record highs and extreme weather events affecting communities worldwide, COP29 brings together leaders from governments, businesses, and civil society to push for concrete solutions to address this defining challenge.
A central focus of COP29 is climate finance. Trillions of dollars are needed for countries to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change. The conference also serves as a key moment for nations to present their updated national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, due by early 2025. With ambitious goals, these plans aim to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and support the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
More than 75 world leaders are attending COP29. The opening program, hosted by Azerbaijan, emphasized the right of countries to use fossil fuels. Azerbaijan, one of the leading contributors to oil and gas production, has faced criticism from human rights groups, both for its environmental impact and human rights record. In his opening speech, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev defended the country’s stance, stating that Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel resources are "God-given" and necessary to the market. He criticized international pressure to reduce fossil fuel dependency, calling it coercive.
A primary objective at COP29 is to secure greater financial commitments for climate action in developing countries. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the responsibility of G20 countries, urging that developing nations should not leave Baku without meaningful support. Notably, several leaders from G20 countries, the wealthiest globally, have yet to arrive in Baku.
Arctic Pavilion at the COP29
Halldór Jóhannsson, Executive Director of the Arctic Portal, is attending COP29, participating in the newly established Arctic Pavilion alongside the Northern Forum.
For the first time, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, features an Arctic Pavilion, spotlighting the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Arctic region. Supported by the Melnichenko Foundation as its main partner and the BRICS Youth Energy Agency as its youth partner, the pavilion opened with the session “Unfreezing Arctic Cooperation.” This inaugural discussion featured Halldór Jóhannsson, Director of the Arctic Portal (Iceland), Anurag Bisen, Senior Fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation (India), and Arseny Kirgizov-Barsky, Advisor at the BRICS Youth Energy Agency, who explored pathways to rekindle Arctic cooperation.
On COP29’s second day, the Arctic Pavilion hosted a session led by the Institute for Humanitarian Research and North Indigenous People Problems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This session, titled “Synthesis of Academic and Traditional Knowledge for the Adaptation of Indigenous Peoples to Climate Change in Russia,” delved into the integration of scientific and indigenous insights to address climate impacts on Arctic communities.
The Arctic Pavilion’s third day focuses on empowering indigenous communities and addressing the escalating issue of permafrost thaw in the context of global warming. These sessions underscore the pavilion’s commitment to amplifying Arctic voices and solutions at this pivotal climate conference.
Topics for the coming days at the Arctic Pavilion will cover a range of critical issues, including sustainable economic development of the Arctic under climate change, sustainable energy in the Arctic, youth and education, revitalizing international cooperation in the region, sustainable development of Arctic cities, Arctic transportation and ice prediction, and Arctic Ocean biodiversity.
See the full program of the Arctic Pavilion here
The Arctic Pavilion is located at the Baku Stadium - COP29 Blue Zone, Pavilion D17
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