On 15 November 2024, the fifth day of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) featured discussions on energy, peace, relief, and recovery. The COP29 Presidency launched the ‘Baku Call on Climate Action for Peace, Relief, and Recovery’ alongside three energy initiatives. The UK government also announced a significant funding package to support developing countries in the transition to clean energy and published new Principles for Voluntary Carbon and Nature Market Integrity. In addition, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) published its 2024 Eye on Methane report. On 16 November 2024, the sixth day, the COP29 Presidency hosted the conference’s inaugural Digitalisation Day, where the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, as well as a declaration aimed at accelerating climate-positive digitalisation, were endorsed. In addition, the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded their sessions, deferring many issues to their meetings in June 2025, and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) published a global report on unlocking sustainable finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

On 18 November 2024, the eighth day of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) featured deliberations on human development, children and youth, health, and education. The conference saw the adoption of the Baku Declaration on Climate Transparency and the launch of the Baku Transparency Platform to support the Enhanced Transparency Framework. In addition, negotiations concerning non-market approaches to climate action under Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement reached a conclusion. The EU also outlined its priorities, including finalising the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance and completing Paris Agreement rules on international carbon markets. Additionally, a multilateral agreement on advanced nuclear technologies was signed by the UK and US.

On 19 November 2024, the ninth day of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) focused on discussions concerning food, agriculture, and water. Heads of Delegation convened in a drafting group to foster progress on the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) on climate finance. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) announced that the UK, New Zealand, and Colombia joined the Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives Including Subsidies (COFFIS). In addition, the COP29 Presidency launched the Reducing Methane Emissions from Organic Waste Declaration, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published an analysis of agrifood systems in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

On 20 November 2024, the tenth day of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) focused on urbanisation, transport, and tourism, marking the first time the COP Presidency dedicated a day to tourism. The Presidency Stocktaking Plenary discussed several topics, including the new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG). In addition, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, delivered a speech on nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and the COP29 Presidency launched declarations on tourism and urban resilience.

On 21 November 2024, the eleventh day of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) focused on nature and biodiversity, indigenous people, gender equality, and oceans and coastal zones. The COP29 Presidency published new drafts on key issues, including the new collective quantitative goal on climate finance (NCQG), which was rejected by several countries. In addition, the COP29 Presidency launched the Water for Climate Action, the UK Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh, announced funding for marine protection projects, the Baku Workplan was adopted to enhance Indigenous and local community participation in climate action, and the European Commission convened a press conference on nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets. Annabel Walker, Senior Associate at Freeths, also provides commentary on the eleventh day of COP29.

On 22 November 2024, the last scheduled day of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) ran into overtime, after draft finance texts drew criticism from all sides. On 23 November 2024, the conference was extended for an additional day as negotiations remained unresolved, with the closing plenary finishing early on 24 November 2024. Key outcomes included the submission of the first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), the agreement of the Baku Finance Goal (BFG) and the adoption of a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance. Additionally, agreements were reached on global carbon market rules and support for national adaptation plans in least developed countries. The conference emphasised the need for countries to develop comprehensive climate plans ahead of COP30, incorporating targets for renewable energy expansion and fossil fuel transition.

Environment analysis: The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 November 2024 until 24 November 2024. It concluded 35 hours after the scheduled closing date, following intense negotiations. With the urgency of addressing climate change more pressing than ever, COP29 aimed to advance international cooperation and set ambitious targets to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts. The conference resulted in the Baku Climate Unity Pact which comprises several decisions from the relevant governing bodies. Two key outcomes included a new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG) committing developed countries to mobilise at least US$300bn per year by 2035 for developing countries’ climate action; and the operationalisation of an international carbon market under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) officially began on 10 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. The presidency was handed over from H.E. Mukhtar Babayev to André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, following Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 in November 2024. In his opening address, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, outlined key implementation priorities and called for the acceleration of US$1.3trn in climate finance. He also released an update to the UN Climate Change Secretariat’s 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) synthesis report. In addition, UN experts issued a statement calling for COP30 negotiations to align with the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s Advisory Opinion on climate change, while the EU endorsed a global statement advocating for the adoption of a Gender Action Plan.

On 11 November 2025, the second day of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), several key publications and initiatives were unveiled. UN Climate Change released the 2025 Yearbook of Global Climate Action; Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) issued a report on climate finance; UN-Habitat published a study on urban content in third-generation Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) published the Global Cooling Watch 2025 report. In addition, the COP30 Presidency and UNEP launched the implementation phase of the Global Mutirão Against Extreme Heat and Brazil introduced the Multilevel Governance Solutions Acceleration Plan.

On 12 November 2025, the third day of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), several key initiatives were announced. The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change launched the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, while the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance (IHLEG) published its fourth report outlining a pathway to mobilise US$1.3trn annually in climate finance by 2035. In addition, the Global Initiative on Jobs & Skills for the New Economy was launched, and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) unveiled a Plan to Accelerate Solutions alongside the Belém Declaration on Sustainable Public Procurement.

On 13 November 2025, the fourth day of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a number of significant developments were announced. Brazil announced the adoption of the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP)—the first international climate adaptation document dedicated specifically to health, while the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) published its 2025 Warming Projections Global Update, reporting no measurable progress in global warming projections for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Food Waste Breakthrough initiative, the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative introduced its Strategy 2030 and the Brazilian Chapter of the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change unveiled a Statement of Commitment on Climate Information Integrity in Digital Advertising.

On 14 November 2025, the fifth day of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), several key initiatives were announced: the World Health Organization (WHO) and Brazil published a special report on implementing the Belém Health Action Plan; the UK and Brazil launched country action plans for the Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) Finance Mission; the Belém Declaration on Green Industrialization was launched and ministers from ten countries unveiled the Declaration for a Global Transport Effort. On 15 November 2025, the sixth day of COP30, Brazil’s Ministry of Finance and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) announced the launch of a Country Platforms Hub. The COP29 and COP30 Presidencies also jointly convened the first implementation meeting for the Baku to Belém Roadmap and the Subsidiary Bodies adopted conclusions and recommended draft decisions on climate support measures.