The Business of World Leaders at COP29.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty adopted in 1992. Its objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.
The UNFCCC serves as the parent treaty for the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. It provides the framework for international cooperation on climate change and hosts the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) where countries negotiate and adopt decisions to address climate change. The UNFCCC also provides a platform for countries to share information, technologies, and best practices, and to mobilize financial resources to support climate action.
Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, and entered into force on November 4, 2016. Now 198 ratifying the UNFCCC.
Its overarching goal is to:
🔸Limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. 🔸Pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
To achieve these goals, the Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and mobilize financial flows consistent with a low-carbon pathway.
The heads of countries invited to COP 29 have several key roles:
1. Setting the Tone and Demonstrating Leadership:
🔹 Showcasing Commitment: Their presence at the summit signifies their countries’ commitment to addressing climate change and transitioning to a sustainable future.
🔹Inspiring Action: By speaking at the summit, they can inspire other countries and stakeholders to take bolder and more ambitious climate action.
🔹 Mobilizing Support: They can use their influence to mobilize support for climate initiatives and encourage international cooperation.
2. Negotiating and Decision-Making.
🔹Participating in Discussions: They actively participate in negotiations and discussions on key climate issues, such as emission reduction targets, climate finance, and adaptation strategies.
🔹Making Commitments: They can announce new commitments and pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase climate finance, or implement climate-friendly policies.
🔹Shaping the Global Agenda: They influence the global climate agenda by advocating for their countries’ priorities and proposing solutions to address climate challenges.
3. Building Partnerships and Collaborations.
🔹 Networking: They engage with other world leaders, climate experts, and representatives from civil society organizations to build relationships and foster collaboration.
🔹Forging Alliances: They can form alliances with other countries to work together on specific climate initiatives or to push for stronger climate action.
🔹Promoting International Cooperation: They encourage international cooperation and coordination to address climate change as a global challenge.
4. Communicating and Raising Awareness.
🔹Public Diplomacy: They use the platform of the summit to communicate their countries’ climate priorities and policies to a global audience.
🔹 Public Engagement: They engage with the public and media to raise awareness about climate change and its impacts. * Inspiring Public Opinion: They can inspire public opinion and mobilize support for climate action within their own countries.
5. Holding Governments Accountable.
🔹 Domestic Pressure: They can use their influence to pressure their own governments to take more ambitious climate action.
🔹 International Scrutiny: Their participation in the summit subjects their countries to international scrutiny and accountability for their climate commitments.
Overall, the roles of heads of countries at COP 29 are crucial in shaping the global response to climate change. Their leadership, diplomacy, and commitment are essential to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and ensuring a sustainable future for the planet.
