COP29 first plenary session concludes with key decisions, agenda approvals in Baku

The opening plenary session of COP29 wrapped up on November 11 in Baku, with significant agenda items for various sessions and meetings of COP29 approved. Chaired by COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, the session established a framework for the upcoming discussions that aim to address global climate challenges.

According to Caliber.Az, President Babayev confirmed that the President of Azerbaijan will officially welcome nearly 100 world leaders tomorrow. This gathering marks the start of the Global Climate Action Summit, where heads of state and government will present their national commitments to addressing climate change. The second segment of the summit is scheduled for November 18-19.

Babayev also announced future COP presidencies, noting that after COP31 in Brazil, the Western European group of countries will assume leadership for COP31 in 2026, followed by the African group hosting COP32 in 2027. He urged these groups to accelerate discussions on finalizing host countries for these conferences.

A report from the Loss and Damage Fund highlighted its achievements so far and announced that its Board of Directors will be headquartered in the Philippines. Ibrahim Sheik Diong was appointed to lead the fund from November 1, and his office aims to support nations vulnerable to climate impacts.

Additional sessions today included CMP19, the meeting of Kyoto Protocol parties, and CMA6, the gathering of parties to the Paris Agreement, where decisions were made to further align global efforts toward emissions reduction and sustainability.

On November 11, the opening ceremony of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) took place in Baku. The conference, which will run until November 22, is expected to be a landmark event in the global fight against climate change, drawing attention from around the world.

One of the most anticipated parts of the conference is the High-Level Segment of the Climate Action Summit, which will take place on November 12-13. During this segment, around 80 heads of state and government from countries party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will address the audience, sharing their countries' commitments and strategies for addressing climate change.

The speeches by world leaders will continue throughout November 13, setting the stage for further discussions on policies, solutions, and collaboration in the fight against climate change. COP29 is seen as a critical opportunity for nations to reaffirm their climate goals and strengthen international cooperation.