From 11 to 22 November 2024, this year's UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) will be taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. As populations around the globe continue to suffer from extreme weather events and other climate-related effects, the world is watching to see what concrete outcomes will result from these highly anticipated negotiations. Read more about what to expect from COP29 in this UNU-EHS blog post.
UNU-MERIT will be contributing to the discussions by taking part in the following side events and sessions:
[All times below are in local Azerbaijan time (GMT+4).]
1. Perspectives for a Net Zero Vision
A panel organised by the Turkish government on 14 November at 16:45-17:30
As part of the themes of finance, investment and trade, this session will be a discussion around the progress towards Türkiye's net zero goals by 2053. UNU-MERIT researcher Dr. Sanae Okamoto will be on the panel to provide her perspectives from the European project InnovationGUIDE (led by Türkiye Exporters Assembly, that she has been involved with as part of the team with Maastricht University) and how supporting innovative ecosystems in rural areas would further facilitate the green transformation.
2. Operationalising multi-scale policy coherence for climate action - an interactive reflection
A session organised by UNU-IAS and UNDESA at the SDG Hub on 15 November at 10:15-11:15
This session will explore practical approaches to achieving multi-level policy coherence for effective climate action by aligning interventions, institutional mandates, and governance systems to enhance socio-ecological resilience. Experts, youth delegates, and audience members will discuss strategies to reduce trade-offs, improve resource efficiency, and ensure just, equitable outcomes across sectors and communities.
3. Synergy Solutions: Overcoming Silos and Policy Incoherence to Close the Climate & SDGs Ambition Gap
A UN System high-level side event organised by UNU and UNDESA on 15 November at 13:15-14:45
The first half of this event will be organised by the UNDESA team, and the second half will be organised by UNU (IAS, MERIT and CRIS). The UNU segment will focus on the fact that operationalising policy coherence across environmental and development decision making is necessary for just and equitable climate actions and outcomes for all stakeholders, from local to global levels.
Panellists will discuss experiences across sectors like environmental policy, health, disaster risk reduction, and financing, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of policy coherence to address interconnected planetary crises and the Rio Conventions. Key themes will include how coherence can enhance financing, risk management, and sustainable practices, fostering resilient infrastructure and innovation through streamlined regulations and public-private partnerships.
Insights from UNU’s research on the above will be presented.
4. Human mobility in the context of climate change
A UNU-EHS/ViE event at the Capacity Building Hub of the Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB) on 16 November at 11:00-13:30
The third part of this event will examine the mental health impacts of human mobility in the context of climate change and explore solutions through technology and socio-ecological approaches. Featuring insights from experts, a youth delegate, and interactive audience engagement, the discussion will highlight innovative strategies to address mobility-related mental health challenges.
UNU-MERIT's Dr. Okamoto is co-organiser, convener and speaker of this final segment of the event. She will also moderate the discussion.
