Wednesday, 06 November 2024.
Euronews reported yesterday that European Commission President won't go to COP 29 in Baku, like the presidents of France and the Russian Federation. To focus on her “institutional duties” with the European Union, indicates the article. Nevertheless, from Europe, leaders from Germany, Spain, Italy, and Poland among others have said they will attend.
COP 29 in Azerbaijan has been dubbed the “Finance COP”, as the huge funding gap needed to fight climate change is a top agenda item.
Note that Azerbaijan has an interesting history related to the beginnings oil industry, close to 200 years and then relevant to Europe. And with key protagonism by the Nobel brothers - yes, from the Nobel Prizes - , like we reported a few days ago, on purpose of the new Nobel Sustainability Trust award.
COP 29 will happen before the next round of submissions of Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by the countries, their action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
As such, in preparation for the COP discussions by the delegates from the several countries, better referred to as Parties, a summary report of the updated NDCs is annually prepared. Note that the European Union and its 27 member States report one single joint NDC.
Here are the highlights, as at 9 September 2024:
168 latest available NDCs, represent 195 Parties to the Paris Agreement;
34 Parties (Azerbaijan, Brazil, European Union, Madagascar, Namibia, Oman and Panama) have communicated new or updated NDCs since September 2023;
These cover 95% of total global emissions, estimated at 52.9 Gt CO2 eq (2019).
The levels presented reflect a stagnation in aggregate NDC ambition level and updated emission data.
51% included strategies, plans and actions for low-emission development reflecting their particular national circumstances;
45% stated that they already have economy-wide NDCs including all sectors and GHGs;
A total of 93% of Parties communicated a time frame and/or period of implementation of until 2030, while 7% specified periods of until 2025, 2035, 2040 or 2050;
84% provided information on the sources of the emission data used for quantifying the reference point, including national inventory reports, biennial reports, biennial update reports and/or national communications;
39% stated that emissions and removals from harvested wood products will be accounted for as part of their NDCs;
78% indicated the intention to use or possibility of using specific scopes of voluntary cooperation under Article 6.
And several other findings.
You can download the 44-pages summary below or access it here.
Recall that a few days ago UNEP issued its 2024 Emissions Gap Report, indicating the massive gap between countries rhetoric and reality.
