The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference or 29th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP29, was held from 11-22 November at Baku Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan.

See daily highlights from the Commonwealth Secretariat at COP29

COP29 Baku Azerbaijan

From COP28 to COP29, unlocking climate finance

The Secretary-General led a team of international policy experts and climate specialists from the Commonwealth Secretariat to COP29, where the Secretariat hosted a Pavilion, an immersive exhibition and one official event focusing on Indigenous Peoples.

Importantly, this COP marked the start of the tenth year of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, responsible for unlocking more than US$ 365 million in 17 Commonwealth countries.

The Commonwealth Secretariat participated with the aim of:

  • following the negotiations
  • advocating for the interests of member countries, especially small and other vulnerable states
  • exchanging knowledge and best practices
  • establishing and strengthening partnerships and networks, and
  • mobilising resources.

Looking back

At COP28, the Secretary-General urged countries to take action to reduce emissions, accelerate the energy transition, and restore the natural world. Donors, she added, must keep their climate finance promises to vulnerable countries, such as the Commonwealth’s small states, which are on the frontlines of climate change. Since then, the COP28 UAE Climate Finance Commitment Counter reports that US$ 85.1 billion has been committed so far.

Looking ahead

The COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency’s plan is based on two mutually reinforcing parallel pillars. The first pillar is to enhance ambition and combines key elements to ensure all parties commit to ambitious national plans. The second pillar builds on the work at COP28 and is on enable action, reflecting on the critical role of finance to turn ambition into action and reduce emissions, adapt to climate change and address loss and damage.

As the Commonwealth of Nations, we will continue to advocate for international finance institutions (IFIs) to be fit-for-purpose, calling for affordable, accessible, and sustainable climate finance in the face of climate change.

Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub logo


The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub is a success story of how small, capacity-constrained and other vulnerable countries can and do access the climate funding they so desperately need. This includes both preparation, recovery, and rebuilding finance.



Latest news from COP29

Schedule of events

This schedule is being updated regularly with event agendas, speakers and flyers linked where available below. Unless otherwise noted, all events are hosted at the Commonwealth Pavilion at COP29. Please note that all times are in GMT +4 (AZT).

For more information about COP29, please visit the official COP29 website.
 

Related work

Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub
Commonwealth Blue Charter
Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda
Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda
Commonwealth Living Lands Charter: A Call to Action on Living Lands
Commonwealth Disaster Resilience Centre

Social media toolkit

View the social media toolkit for key messages, hashtags and links to share on social media during COP29, taking place from 11-22 November 2024.

The main hashtag to include in all posts is #CommonwealthForClimate.

View the social media toolkit

 


Media contact

For media enquiries and interview bids for the Commonwealth Secretary-General or Commonwealth Secretariat experts, please contact: [email protected] or:

  • Suné Kitshoff   Senior Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
  • M: +44 7740 450 901  |  E-mail

Environment and climate change work

Small states

Commonwealth member countries