PARLIAMENTARIANS@COP29 Newsletter | 8 October 2024, Volume 4 Issue 5

Welcome to the October issue of our multilingual Parliamentarians@COP29 newsletter, prepared by GLOBE International serving as the UNFCCC Focal Point for the world’s parliamentary constituency. Our work supports legislators to deliver on their Paris Agreement (and related) climate commitments, and to prepare for and engage effectively at COP29.

We are proud to work closely with the COP28-COP29-COP30 Presidencies, now brought together as the first such Troika, to better coordinate across the Presidencies and support Mission 1.5C.

Our focus is on ensuring that the global parliamentary constituency is well-informed and supported to engage in the UNFCCC process, COP29 and related international fora. Tune in for in-depth updates at our monthly Webinars for the Parliamentary constituency (details below) and our monthly newsletters.

Contents

1. UN Updates
2. Global updates
3. Parliamentary network reports
4. Have your say/Support us/Contact us

At COP28, we hosted the first ever Parliamentary Pavilion. Most of the events at the Parliamentary Pavilion were livestreamed and the videos for 32 events can be viewed directly on the  Parliamentary Pavilion playlist here. Photos from the Pavilion events can be viewed on Flickr here.

PARLIAMENTARY PAVILION AT COP29

GLOBE is proud to announce that we will be hosting the COP29 Parliamentary Pavillion in the Blue Zone from 11-22 November 2024. The Pavillion will serve as the Hub for the Parliamentary constituency at COP29 with a packed daily agenda of briefings, panel discussions, fireside chats and events with MPs and thought leaders from around the world. There will be space for Caucuses and Meetings for members of parliament. To propose an event or request meeting space, kindly write to: focalpoint@globelegislators.org

COP29 President Writes to Constituencies & Parties, Stresses BTR

With COP29 fast approaching, the COP29 Presidency has written to Parties and Constituencies calling for greater transparency and ambition. In the letters, the COP29 President-Designate, His Excellency Mukhtar Babayev, emphasised the key role of the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). With the deadline for the submission of the BTR fast approaching, the Presidency encouraged Parties to make early submissions ahead of COP29.

The COP29 Presidency also held a High-Level Dialogue on 3 September, 2024, to sustain momentum for increased transparency action in the lead-up to COP29. Read the second letter to Parties here. 

In furtherance of its drive for representation and inclusivity, the COP29 Presidency also wrote to UNFCCC Constituencies asking that each Constituency appoints two persons to join the Friends of COP29 Presidency forum. The forum offers a chance for Constituencies to have their voices heard on negotiation issues while tabling their priorities. More here.

Progress Made in Climate Finance Negotiations

UNGA79: Countries Commit to Fossil Fuel Phaseout

Pacific States Showing Climate Leadership—Guterres

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has lauded Pacific Island States for their bold steps in tackling the climate crisis. Mr Guterres said the region’s Declaration on Sea Level Rise, and their determination to have a just transition towards a fossil-fuel-free Pacific are proof of their commitment to enhanced climate action. He emphasised that the world has a lot to learn from the Pacific States.  More Here

Rio Trio Initiative Launched

As part of efforts to leverage the intersection between the three Rio Conventions—climate change, biodiversity, desertification—the incoming Rio Convention Presidencies met on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) to launch the Rio Trio Initiative. The Initiative brings together the climate change COP Presidency (Azerbaijan), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP Presidency (Colombia) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP Presidency (Saudi Arabia) to “to drive global collaboration between climate change, biological diversity and desertification.” This is a significant step towards greater coherence amongst the Rio Conventions and one welcomed by GLOBE International, which has long advocated for such an approach as part of its Coherence and Convergence Agenda.  More here.

COP29 E-visa Platform Launched

The COP29 Presidency has launched an e-Visa platform for COP29 to make it easier for accredited delegates going to Baku for COP29. The platform can be accessed here.

6th Meeting of COP29 Organising Committee Held

The COP29 Organising Committee convened its sixth meeting on August 16, 2024. Addressing participants, Chairman Samir Nuriyev highlighted the inclusive approach to invitations for the UNFCCC parties and Azerbaijan's commitment to bridging the gap between developed and developing nations on the new financial target. Part of the process for this was the adoption of an informal innovative format of engaging with heads of delegations of countries. More here. 

Seventh Cycle  Outline Approved by IPCC

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) at its 61st Plenary Session in Sofia, Bulgaria, has agreed on the outlines of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities and the 2027 IPCC Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forces. The Plenary Session with more than 230 delegates from 114 member governments in attendance also agreed on the respective timelines of the two reports. More here.

COP29 Daily Show Launched

As part of efforts to ensure an inclusive COP29 leading to enhanced ambition, the COP29 Operating Company has launched the “Daily Show”. The show which will be produced by UK’s Hi-Impact company will provide highlights of daily events and decisions at COP29. It will be streamed online and on televisions across the world. More here

NDC 3.0 Regional Fora Convened

Ahead of the submission of NDC 3.0 ,  the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and NDC Partnership, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have organised regional meetings to raise ambition in the next climate pledges. The regional meetings were aimed at supporting countries to set 2035 targets that align with limiting global warming to 1.5℃ and enhancing resilience to climate impacts under the Paris Agreement. Read More

Baku Climate Action Week takes place

The city of Baku hosted its inaugural climate action week from 30 September to 4 October, 2024. Convened by the COP29 High-level Champion, Nigar Arpadarai, Baku Climate Action Week adopted a whole-of-society approach, in partnership with London Climate Action Week, to galvanise the private sector and society on climate action and set the stage for COP29. 

With the strapline of Engage, Innovate, and Accelerate, BCAW2024 showcased Azerbaijan's leadership in national, regional, and global green transformation and climate action across all sectors. Curated by GLOBE International, CEO, Malini Mehra, in her role with London Climate Action Week, the week saw a range of programmes at iconic and historical venues across the city, drawing speakers and participants from around the world.

Baku Climate Action Week brought together over 700 participants in over 30 events featured high-level events which cut across several topics such as adaptation, risk and resilience; green economy; agriculture; financing the urban transition; energy transition; an ideathon for youths, a walk the talk for climate action championed by the UN in Azerbaijan in partnership with the COP29 High-level champion; etc.,  culminated in the  launch of the first standalone Agriculture Report of the Breakthrough Agenda. Led by CGIAR and in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion; the  launch of the Youth Climate Change Network, a new platform dedicated to empowering the next generation to actively participate in climate solutions and transition efforts; the setting up of a new Azerbaijan Universities Network on Climate Change (AUNCC), in partnership with COP29 Presidency and the British Council; among others.

COP29 President-Designate, Mukhtar Babayev, described the event as “another milestone in the deepening national conversation to accelerate climate action in Azerbaijan.” Baku Climate Action Week saw the link between Baku and Brazil strengthened with a strong message of partnership from the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro and a desire to work towards Rio Climate Action Week in 2025 ahead of COP30. More here.

MEPs Call for Expansion of Climate Finance Donor Pool

Scottish Parliament Tables Ambitious New Climate Change Bill

MoU for Baku to Belem Climate Partnership Adopted

Pacific Island Forum Held in Tonga

States of the Pacific Island held its 53rd Forum from August 26 - 30, 2024, at Nuku’Alofa, Tonga. The forum, which is held annually, represents an opportunity for leaders of the region to take stock of challenges and agree on policies that will benefit the people of the Pacific region.This year’s forum was anchored on Tonga’s vision of moving beyond deliberations to implementation; and building back resiliently which bestrides the seven thematic areas of the 2050 Agenda. More here.

9th Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Namibia

It’s Time: New York Climate Action Week Held

Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform (BTP)

As part of its plans for bolstering climate transparency ahead of COP29, the COP29 Presidency on September 3, 2024, launched the Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform to support developing countries’ Parties in the preparation and submission of their Biennial Transparency Reports while promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange amongst all parties on the full spectrum of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). The BTRs will enable more ambitious climate action by helping countries assess progress, design more effective policies over time and attract needed climate finance. More here

Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Summit to take place at COP29

The United States and China are set to co-host a summit on methane and other non- CO2 greenhouse gasses at COP29. The announcement came shortly after a three-day meeting of the US-China Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s, which was hosted in Beijing, China, and co-chaired by Liu Zhenmin, China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, and John Podesta, US Senior Advisor to the President for international Climate Policy. More here

Executive Director for Loss and Damage Fund Appointed

The UNFCCC has announced Senegalese and American finance specialist, Ibrahima Cheihk Diong, as the first Director of the Board of the World Bank-administered Loss and Damage Fund. Diong will serve for a four-year term, starting from 1 November, 2024. The appointment of Ibrahima Cheihk Diong is a major milestone in the operationalization of the fund aimed at helping vulnerable countries most impacted by climate disasters. Mr. Diong who currently serves as Special Representative of the President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa on ESG and previously served as Assistant Secretary General and Director General of the African Union specialized agency, the African Risk Capacity Group (ARC), is set to provide strategic leadership and oversight for the Fund’s Secretariat. More here

Pact for the Future Adopted at UNGA79

World leaders on September 22, 2024, adopted a landmark agreement known as the Pact for the future, at the UN Summit for the Future, which aims to address pressing global challenges, and set forth strategies to address them. The Pact covers a broad range of issues, with key deliverables on peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. The pact also explicitly called for the complete phaseout of fossil fuels. More here

Climate Change Summer Camp Held in Baku

The COP29 Presidency has convened the first-ever climate change summer camp. The summer camp is aimed at educating young and passionate educators on climate change awareness and on the COP process which they will take back home to the youths in their home country. More here

Africa Outlines Its COP29 Demands

The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) has outlined what Africa’s demand will be for COP29. The group made this known in Nairobi, in August, ahead of meetings of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and the Committee of African Heads of State on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). According the to the AGN, Finance, Loss and Damage, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Mitigation and Just Transition, and Adaptation will be the focus of the continent at COP29. More here.

Parliamentary Network Reports

UNFCCC Parliamentary Group Hold Monthly Webinar 

The monthly "Road to COP29" webinar of the UNFCCC Parliamentary Group, convened by GLOBE International, for the month of September took place on Wednesday, 25 September, 2024.  The webinars serve as a platform for information sharing, planning and coordination by members of parliament, staff and parliamentary organisations for COP29 and related processes to inform and support parliamentary engagement. The next webinar will take place on Wednesday, 30 October, 2024.

16th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality to Take Place

ParlAmericas will be holding its "Hemispheric interparliamentary meeting" as part of the "8th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change and Sustainability". Slated for 23-25 October, in San José, Costa Rica, the event will highlight several topics including: Responsible Migration Governance in a World of Environmental and Social Uncertainty; Legislative Experiences and Best Practices in Addressing Human Mobility ;Gender Equality and Migration: Examining Differential Impacts; Legislative Tools for work and migration; etc. More here.

The 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference-- an annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)—will take place in New Sydney, Australia, from 4 - 8 November, 2024. The conference which brings together Parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth to participate in plenary sessions on topics of Pan-Commonwealth interest will be hosted by the Parliament of New South Wales. More here

GLOBE tracks parliamentary engagements in the UNFCCC process on an ongoing basis. We would like to hear from you on your parliamentary engagement on climate change. Please connect  <focalpoint@globelegislators.org> We look forward to hearing from you with your news and views on how parliaments are impacting the climate agenda.

GLOBE International is an international charity registered in Belgium. We work in a cross-party and non-partisan manner to ensure that elected representatives are aware of and engaged in key international processes such as the United Nations conference of parties (COPs) on climate change, biodiversity and desertification. 
Since 2021, GLOBE has served as the UNFCCC Focal Point for the Parliamentary Group, providing a range of services to help inform and organise the global parliamentary constituency. We seek to do the same for the other Rio Conventions and key international institutions and processes.  As a non-profit organisation our work relies on public support and donations. If you would like to support our work, kindly Donate using our Paypal account: the beneficiary is <secretariat@globelegislators.org>

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Please contact us with your news, views, and information about parliaments and climate action, including sharing any Hearings, reports, articles and blogs you may have written. We look forward to hearing from you through  focalpoint@globelegislators.org.

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