The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP-29) of the United Nations Climate Change Conference will convene in Azerbaijan’s coastal capital city, Baku, from November 11–22, 2024 (The COP29 Presidency will be led by Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Ecology and Natural Resources Minister). Hundreds of global leaders and negotiators are set to gather for this annual climate summit after the hottest summer ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere. It will primarily focus on advancing the Paris Agreement’s commitment to limiting global warming and a wide range of climate-linked issues, with thematic days addressing the role of Artificial Intelligence in policy, holistic infrastructure resilience, human-centered climate solutions, increased investment in clean energy, and climate finance initiatives.
Climate Change till now
In August 2024, Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, spoke about the catastrophic water level drop over the past decades in the Caspian Sea due to climate change and human activities (Russia has built 40 dams with reservoirs and 18 more in the pipeline) that are becoming an ecological disaster. The Caspian Sea’s coastline is shared between five countries with unique wildlife, and its water level is projected to decline by 8 to 18 meters by the end of the century. 130 rivers feed this landlocked sea, although around 80% of the water comes from Europe’s longest river, the Volga. The northern part of the Caspian Sea, mainly around Kazakhstan, is set to completely disappear due to damming, over-extraction, pollution, and, primarily, the human-caused climate crisis. However, the country plans to expand its production of the fossil fuels that are helping drive it.
This will be an excellent opportunity for one of humanity’s most challenging yet urgent threats. The very fabric of Life On Earth is imperiled as humanity is on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster. The world is already seeing an uptick in extreme weather events, including heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and floods.
Unprecedented ocean heating and warmer seawater invigorate tropical cyclones, fuelling their intensity into bigger, longer-lasting storms, allowing winds to strengthen rapidly, and intensifying rainfall nearing the coastline, leading to a surge in catastrophic flooding. Additionally, the ocean waters are becoming more acidic due to the increased absorption of carbon dioxide, which would endanger the survival of hundreds of marine species.
These changes are impacting biodiversity along with human health and well-being. The 1.5°C target, established by the Paris Agreement, is slipping out of reach as global emissions continue to rise. Existing climate pledges point to nearly 3°C of warming by 2100, far beyond what is considered safe for the planet. Exceeding 1.5°C could trigger tipping points with lasting impacts for centuries, including devastating consequences for low-lying island nations and global ecosystems.
Expectations from COP 29
The COP 29 summit is expected to emphasize the need to prioritize the safe, equitable, and ethical development of artificial intelligence technologies. This will be crucial in leveraging quality data to make informed decisions towards mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Energy remains one of the most important topics at COP29 as it continues to be a primary sector in generating greenhouse gas emissions. The energy demand is growing dramatically with corresponding emissions. The investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and zero-emission fuels like hydrogen continue to offer some of the best opportunities to reduce future GHG emissions and reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. Several proposed initiatives are planned to ramp up investment efforts to be launched at COP29 and to mobilize private investment for climate action.
The government must prioritize substantial investments in safeguarding critical infrastructure against disaster risks to build resilience on a large scale. Achieving truly resilient infrastructure requires addressing systemic risks and recognizing opportunities for proactive improvements. Key priorities should include protecting essential assets like access roads, ensuring continuous electricity supply, and maintaining potable water availability during and after flood events. By strengthening these critical components, we can significantly reduce economic losses and support quicker recovery, enhancing community resilience and safety in disasters.
Concrete solutions will have to be identified to not only agree on a new climate finance goal but also to ensure that real finance flows follow this goal, which is required for equitable and responsive action to climate change and biodiversity loss. An integrated approach would be required to reinforce solutions that address these crises. This approach can potentially drive us towards transitioning to a climate-resilient economy, leading to a net-zero, nature-positive, and socially just future.