adelphi at COP29

• 15 November, 15:30-16:30 
  Think – tank Roundtable - COP29: From Thinking to Action – Shaping Solutions with the Baku Hub
  Where: Climate, Peace and Transboundary Resilience Pavilion
  On November 15, 2024, the 1st meeting of the Baku Climate and Peace Action Hub Think Tank Working Group "COP29: From Thinking to Action – Shaping Solutions on Peace and Climate Nexus" will bring together prominent think tanks from the COP29 Climate and Peace Co-Lead Initiative countries at COP29, held Azerbaijan Pavilion. Key participants include the adelphi (Germany), AIR Center (Azerbaijan), Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (UAE), Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) (Egypt), ODI (UK), WEC Italy (Italy). The primary goal of this event is to establish a dedicated working group of think tanks within the Baku Climate and Peace Action Hub (Baku Hub) to address the critical nexus of climate and peace. The working group within the Baku Hub will serve as an analytical arm, composed of experts from think tanks appointed by the Co-Lead Group. This group will be responsible for developing thematic reports, research and analytical papers, and project concepts that address the nexus of climate and peace, including issues like water scarcity, food security, land degradation, and climate-induced migration. Additionally, the working group will provide on-demand advice and expertise, contribute progress updates, and compile data for the annual report prepared by the Secretariat.

• 16 November, 11:00 - 12:00
  Climate resilience, peace and security: Integrated solutions to bridge the implementation gap
  Where: NDC-Partnership Pavilion (Blue Zone, Zone E, Pavilion Number A9)
  Building on the COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace, endorsed by 94 governments and 43 organizations, and aligning with COP29’s thematic day on Peace, Relief, and Recovery, this high-level event will examine the critical linkages between climate resilience, peace, and security, especially in vulnerable and fragile settings, including a focus on women and youth. The event is organized by UNOPS in collaboration with the Federal Republic of Somalia and adelphi, and will convene key stakeholders representing governments, international organizations and youth representatives. 
  
  Moderator:  
  Janani Vivekananda, Head of Programme Climate Diplomacy and Security, adelphi
  
  Keynote speaker: 
  H.E. Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Federal Republic of Somalia
   
  Panellists: 
  ● H.E. Ole Thonke, Under-Secretary for Development Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark 
  ● Christina Wegelein, Head of the Climate Security Division, the German Federal Foreign Office 
  ● Nisreen Elsaim, Former Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change 
  ● Émilie Potvin, Director, Global Portfolios & Partnerships, UNOPS

• 16 November, 12:00 - 13:00
  Climate – Security – Foresight: proactive, data-led policy-making to prevent climate security conflict
  Where: Blue Zone H2C, Iraqi Pavillon
  The session will concentrate on the strategic use of foresight data to influence and shape climate and security policies at both national and international levels, with a particular focus on Iraq. Emphasis will be placed on leveraging data-driven insights to guide policy-making, foster cooperation among government entities, and establish robust frameworks that mitigate the risk of climate-induced conflicts. With Janani Vivekananda, Head of Programme Climate Diplomacy and Security at adelphi.
  
  Moderation: 
  Katja Anne Kammerer, GIZ
  
  Confirmed keynote speaker:
  ● Deputy Minister Dr Jasim Al-Falahi, Ministry of Environment, Iraq
  
  Confirmed panelists:
  ● Janani Vivekananda, Head of Programme Climate Diplomacy and Security, adelphi
  ● Yousif Muayad Yousif, Director of the Directorate of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Iraq 
  ● Ali Asgar, Member of the National Committee for Climate Change of Iraq Office of the National Security Advisor, Iraq 
  ● Ali Radhi Al-Mohamadawy, General Director of the National Center for Water Resources Management, Ministry of Water Resources, Iraq

• 19 November, 15:30 – 16:30
  Strengthening climate resilience through cross-border co-operation on landscape fire management and wildfire risk reduction
  Where: Pavilion of Azerbaijan, C3, Blue Zone
  The OSCE has been supporting co-operation and dialogue on wildfire risk reduction and landscape fire management in the South Caucasus and South-Eastern Europe within its flagship project “Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia”. Resulting from the project, the report “Co-operation in North-west Azerbaijan and Eastern Georgia: Scoping study on addressing shared climate-related security challenges and strengthening resilience in the South Caucasus through fire risk reduction” has been developed in partnership with the Berlin based think-tank adelphi and the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC). The study analyses climate-related security risk and identifies opportunities for cross-border co-operation between Azerbaijan and Georgia. This COP29 side event will enable discussions on lessons learned from these efforts and on next steps for enhancing co-operation in the OSCE region. It will also provide a chance to highlight initiatives taken by Azerbaijan and Georgia to address the growing effects of climate change and how cross-border co-operation can strengthen these efforts. Additionally, the conversation will benefit from the knowledge and experience gained from other OSCE regions as well as from expert input of OSCE partners.
  
  Keynote: 
  Beatrice Mosello, Senior advisor, adelphi
  
  Panelists: 
  High-level representatives from OSCE participating States, including from Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as practitioners and experts
  
  Conclusion and closing remarks: 
  Amb. Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities

• 21 November, 14:00 – 16:00
  Uniting for Climate Resilience, Sustainable Development and Security in Mountain Regions
  Where: Pavilion “Kyrgyzstan: Sustainable Mountain Development” (F8), Blue Zone
  According to the Report of the UN Secretary-General, mountain ecosystems are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like extreme weather events, temperature rise and natural disasters, as well as to deforestation, land degradation, and pollution. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is providing a platform for political dialogue on risks associated with climate change and is implementing activities on the ground. The OSCE has developed a strong collaboration with the governments of the countries of Central Asia to jointly foster regional co-operation around climate change and its implications on stability and prosperity. The OSCE’s flagship project on climate change and security provides the avenue for this collaboration. Building on a wide regional consultation process in Central Asia, the OSCE and the Berlin based think tank adelphi published the “Regional co-operation strategy on climate change and security in Central Asia’s high mountain areas” in September 2024, which includes a set of recommendations and concrete ideas to jointly address climate-related security risks in Central Asia. Building on previous discussions and joint initiatives, the aim of this joint side event at COP29 is to strengthen co-operation among Central Asian countries, in order to take joint action to jointly address issues related to climate change and stability in mountain areas and lowlands, to develop joint decisions and recommendations taking into account local and national contexts as well as the latest international debates and scientific research.
  
  Welcome remarks: 
  ●  Amb. Dinara Kemelova, Special Representative of the President of Kyrgyzstan for the Implementation of the Five-year Action for the Development on Mountain Regions
  ●  Amb. Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
  
  Input presentation: 
  Beatrice Mosello, Senior advisor at adelphi
  
  Panelists: 
  Ministers and high-level representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as representatives of project donors and international organizations

About COP29

UN Climate Change Conferences (or COPs) take place every year, and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change that brings together almost every country on Earth.  

Among the key priorities of COP 29 are securing a new goal on climate finance, ensuring every country has the means to take much stronger climate action, slashing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilient communities. 

Also in focus will be the next round of national climate plans, or NDCs, currently being developed by countries ahead of next year’s deadline and ensuring these bolder, fully implementable and investable strategies and targets are economy-wide, focus on transitioning away from fossil fuels, and keep the world on track to 1.5 degrees of warming. 

List of COP29's side events and pavilions

COP29's official website

Parts of this description were excerpted from unfccc.int/cop29