The Conference of the Parties (COP29), hosted by the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, has entered its ninth day, with climate and environmental activities continuing in its blue and green zones.
Blue Zone Activities
The COP29 Presidency, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, will launch the Blue Zone's activities for the ninth day of COP29, which falls on Tuesday, November 19.
They will launch the Baku Harmony Climate initiative to empower farmers to adapt to climate change. This initiative will serve as the official opening of the Food, Agriculture, and Water Day.
Additionally, the COP29 presidency, in partnership with FAO, will also organize a session on science and innovation on Food and Agriculture Day, aimed at low-emission and resilient food systems.
In another session, COP29 will unleash the new potential of geothermal energy from the blue zone.
Exploring the Caspian Sea
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources will host a session with the title, "Learn about the Caspian Sea: Enhancing the Resilience of Coastal Areas and Protecting Biodiversity Through the Tehran Convention in the Context of Climate Change Impacts."
In the context of promoting the effective use of the vital water resource for agriculture and the sustainability of crops and livestock that feed the world's population, G.B. Cotton Holding Company will organize an event to highlight the critical importance of sustainable water management in mitigating climate change and enhancing agricultural productivity.
This event will bring together policymakers, water resource managers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss innovative technologies, practices, and policies that can improve water use in agriculture and other key sectors.
Agricultural food heritage
The COP29 presidency, in collaboration with FAO, will also organize a high-level event titled "Agricultural Food Heritage: Key to Achieving Global Climate Goals," to highlight the importance of cooperation among the Conference of the Parties to ensure that agricultural issues are properly addressed in international negotiations and to provide adequate contributions to climate finance to support the sustainable transformation of agricultural food systems.
Declaration to Reduce Methane Emissions
The COP29 presidency is organizing a high-level event in the blue zone to launch the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) declaration to reduce methane emissions from organic waste.
The region will also witness the organization of a high-level ministerial meeting by the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices.
"Accelerating Adaptation Actions at COP29: Progress in Formulating and Implementing National Adaptation Plans" is a high-level session that the COP29 presidency, in partnership with the United States, will organize for governments, UN agencies, and development partners.
The session aims to discuss the progress made, share lessons learned from the past decade of work on national adaptation plans, and stimulate further cooperation to enhance and accelerate national adaptation plan processes.
The COP29 presidency and the FAO will also hold an event together to talk about how to get more money to invest in sustainable practices and food systems. They will stress how important it is to get rid of policy and market barriers right away so that money goes to priority interventions and everyone has equal access to funding.
Water for Climate Action
In a roundtable discussion titled "Water for Climate Action: Integrating Water Solutions into Nationally Determined Contributions and National Action Plans," the Conference of the Parties will focus on how regional cooperation can help countries plan effective strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change and for more efficient use of natural resources such as water, land, and energy in a changing climate.
This event will demonstrate the value of regional cooperation in the fields of water, energy, food, and ecosystems to achieve climate goals and sustainable development goals, in addition to identifying opportunities to scale up national climate action through regional coordination and cooperation.
Green Zone Activities
The Green Zone of COP29 will explore, through a discussion session titled "Sustainable Agriculture," innovative practices and policies that can improve agricultural productivity while ensuring the protection of natural resources and promoting environmental sustainability.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland will organize a session titled "Mobilizing Private Sector Investments as a Force Multiplier for the Success of the Paris Agreement" to explore the challenges and opportunities available to enhance private sector participation in climate action, with a particular focus on developing countries.
Representatives from financial institutions, business leaders, and policymakers will debate how to foster an environment that will speed up the shift to a low-carbon economy.
Climate Justice Map
The Green Zone, through an interactive workshop titled "Training and Dialogue on the Climate Justice Map for Climate Solutions Financing," aims to delve deeper into the Climate Justice Map—a dynamic tool designed to promote equality and inclusivity in climate action. The workshop will provide hands-on training to enable participants to map and analyze climate vulnerabilities and resilience in local contexts, ensuring that their work is visible and highlighted.
In a session titled "Islands, Oceans, and Climate: The Role of Non-National Island Jurisdictions at COP29," the unique contributions of island jurisdictions in addressing climate change and protecting ocean ecosystems will also be addressed.
Sustainable tourism
Finally, in a session titled "Promoting Sustainable Tourism Using Local Agricultural Products," the Green Zone of COP29 will explore the contribution of local agricultural products and sustainable agricultural practices in reducing the carbon footprint of the food industry and enhancing eco-friendly tourism experiences.
