When it comes to the climate crisis, every action matters.
What is COP29?
COP29 stands for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In this guide we’ll call it COP; you might also hear this referred to as the UN climate change convention.
At the annual climate COP, delegates from nearly every country on Earth negotiate global goals for tackling climate change, present their individual countries’ plans for contributing to those goals, and report on their progress.
Key Facts About Nature & Climate
1.5° C
The target for limiting global warming to reduce the harmful effects of climate change.
1/3
The amount of emission reductions we could realize by protecting and restoring nature.
<10%
The amount of climate funding currently allocated to nature-based solutions.
Why is COP29 important?
The world is already grappling with the severe impacts of a warming planet: record-breaking wildfires, catastrophic floods, and relentless heat waves. Worse yet, the first-ever Global Stocktake—a climate progress report—revealed just how far we’ve fallen behind our goals. We need urgent, transformative action and COP29 is our opportunity to step up and meet the moment.
The climate COP meets in a different city every year to demonstrate the importance of collaboration from nations across the globe. This year’s meeting will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, November 11 to 22. While the overall goal of all these meetings is increasing global cooperation to fight climate change, the specific topics can vary each year.
Similar to last year, the host country sets the tone and initial direction of discussion.
What are some key topics COP29 will focus on?
Transitioning to Clean Energy
Fast tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5° C (2.7° F) above pre-industrial levels.
Centering nature, people, lives & livelihoods
Put nature, people, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, including helping the most vulnerable communities adapt to the change that’s already occurring.
Delivering on finance
Deliver old promises and set the framework for a new deal on finance. Climate finance must be affordable, available, and accessible to developing countries.
Mobilizing inclusivity
Mobilize the most inclusive COP ever, ensuring that decisions and discussions, and how the solutions are implemented, are truly inclusive and done in collaboration with youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
What do we need to see happen at COP29?
As countries work to update and align their climate plans, Resilient40 youth will be at the forefront of COP29 negotiations with government and business leaders.
We are advocating for a swifter transition to renewable energy sources, greater use of natural climate solutions, and more investment from both the public and private sectors, especially to help those countries that have been most affected by the impacts of climate change.
We’re also working to ensure there is increased inclusivity and equity in climate policy processes since the leadership of marginalized groups, like Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), are essential to protecting cultural and biological diversity.
Resilient40’s three core priorities for COP29
AS A GLOBAL SOCIETY, WE MUST:
- Phase out fossil fuels. We must accelerate the equitable phase-out of fossil fuels to achieve net zero by 2050 or sooner and transition to renewable energy.
- Build climate-resilient societies.We must empower youth and groups who steward nature to secure their homes, livelihoods and futures.
- Invest in financial flows towards climate.We must inspire commitments and investments in nature-positive projects, policies and practices.
And that’s not all. We’ll be tracking specific policy actions as the negotiations progress and grading how the world performs according to our COP29 Scorecard.
R40’s THREE PRIORITIES AT COP29
What can we all do to help address climate change?
Every action matters. Every ounce of carbon, every fraction of a degree, every day matters. Our leaders’ climate actions matter and your climate actions matter too.