Our trek to COP29 is almost complete. We will arrive soon in Azerbaijan for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. It opens on Monday, November 11, 2024 in Baku, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, and runs through Friday, November 22nd.
As we traveled to COP29, we explored the world to learn about important issues:
- In June, we mapped out the route – “A Trek to COP29”
2. In July, we visited island nation states – “COP29 ➡️ Via Fiji”
3. August, we trekked through stormy weather – “Edge of the Storm”
4. In September & October, we rediscovered – “Lessons from the Bronze Age”
In November, how might each of us participate in COP29?
Some of us will attend in person.
I will be in Baku as a delegate for Interfaith Power & Light (National). My time will be divided between two separate, but interconnected zones. The first is the Climate Action Innovation Zone for the Sustainable Innovation Forum, a flagship event affiliated with COP29. The second is the United Nations Blue Zone, the locus for official negotiations and for events within the Faith Pavilion. I will be blogging about both zones during my participation in the COP29 proceedings.
But most of us will participate virtually. Let’s consider those options.
California will once again send a delegation. Historically, our state’s representation has been significant. I look forward to blogging more about California’s influence at COP29 in the coming weeks.
Azerbaijan maintains the host country website, including an overview of daily COP29 events. Here is the main website here. And here is their overview of daily events.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s website is very helpful. It provides useful information for stateside participants in COP29, as well as a YouTube channel to view some proceedings remotely. The general homepage is here: https://unfccc.int.
Other U.N. resources:
- For an overview of the conference schedule;
- For information about daily events; and
- The United Nations Climate Change Channel “On this channel you can find streams from all major UN Climate Change conferences and events.”
The U.S. Center is our country’s official event space at COP29. It will feature events encompassing a diversity of sectors, perspectives, and experiences informing global climate action and solutions. U.S. Center events will be livestreamed and posted on YouTube here.
The U.S. Center COP29 website can be found here.
Stakeholders and attendees will engage in discussions about a range of themes reflecting COP29’s daily thematic calendar:
Monday, November 11th – COP29 Opening
Tuesday, November 12th – World Leaders Climate Action Summit
Wednesday, November 13th – World Leaders Climate Action Summit
Thursday, November 14th – Finance, Investment and Trade
Friday, November 15th – Energy/ Peace, Relief and Recovery
Saturday, November 16th – Science, Technology and Innovation/ Digitalization
Sunday, November 17th – Rest Day and No Thematic Programming
Monday, November 18th – Human Capital/ Children and Youth/ Health/ Education
Tuesday, November 19th – Food, Agriculture and Water
Wednesday, November 20th – Urbanization/ Transport/ Tourism
Thursday, November 21st – Nature and Biodiversity/ Indigenous People/ Gender Equality/ Oceans and Coastal Zones
Friday, November 22nd – Final Negotiations
The Financial Times will share a pavilion with the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund for COP29, the “Finance COP.” Accessing the FT offerings may be especially meaningful during this conference.
The FT sessions will “evaluate and reflect on negotiations, announcements and agreements taking place during COP29.”
The London-based publication is opening registration to members of the public seeking to secure a virtual pass to FT events at COP29. Registration is here and the FT event schedule is here.
The World Resources Institute is a valuable resource for web-based information, latest news (here) and podcasts (here).
“WRI’s experts will be on the ground and closely tracking the key issues at stake. Explore our Resource Hub to learn more about UN climate negotiations and their critical role in ensuring a better world for people, nature and the climate.”
World Wildlife Fund, the official name in Canada and the United States, is one of the world’s largest conservation organizations. WWF will have its own pavilion at COP29. Here is the conference program schedule. Some of their programs will be available on their YouTube channel.
And so, it begins for each of us.
The Sacredness of Voting