COP29 round-up—11 November 2024 (Opening Day)

Article summary

The 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) officially began on 11 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The United Arab Emirates have handed over presidency to H.E. Mukhtar Babayev, having hosted COP28 in November 2023. Mr Babayev, along with UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, emphasised the need for parties to commit to an agreement on climate finance. The EU also issued a joint statement reaffirming its commitment to strengthening gender integration in global climate action. Consensus was reached on standards for carbon credits under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, ensuring high-integrity emissions reductions, and High-Level Energy Transition Dialogues launched initiatives to scale up renewable energy and efficiency.