COP29: Tackling Climate Change

There’s something timeless about the beauty of Baku: the old city bustling with life against the backdrop of the Caspian Sea. When I arrived here for COP29 Azerbaijan, I was reminded of past visits, but there was a different sense of urgency this time. For the next two weeks, Baku will be the stage for critical discussions on tackling climate change.

Despite uncertain global politics and a low sense of trust from the biodiversity talks held in Cali, Baku is an opportunity to accelerate climate action. The clarion call for #COP29 is clear. For me, there are 4 critical calls:

1️⃣Revitalize Climate Finance
Our farmers, who work tirelessly to feed us, are on the front lines, facing the blunt edge of climate change daily. They need greater support to deal with the intensifying risks they face. The need is clear—we must channel resources into crop diversification, greenhouse gas reduction technology development and adoption, and sustainable water management practices. These investments will protect and strengthen these farmers.

2️⃣ Prioritize our Soils
Our soils are not just a foundation for food production but also vital carbon sinks. Soil carbon sequestration impacts both carbon market functionality and emissions calculations. Soil health and soil carbon sequestration must take center stage in COP discussions, not just as part of carbon markets but as a fundamental metric in our fight against climate change.

3️⃣ Inclusion of Agriculture in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
We’re seeing positive trends: agriculture is increasingly represented in NDCs, acknowledging its dual role in climate mitigation and adaptation. However, global coordination remains a challenge, and it’s unclear what this means for the world. This COP is responsible for starting a discussion on better coordination across NDCs to reflect the national context of production systems and ecological zones while creating a level playing field for all parties to participate in our global food systems.

4️⃣ Urgent Action, Together
Given the intricate interconnections of our food systems, climate volatility means we are one event—be it a drought or a flood—from a food catastrophe. To climate-proof our food systems, we need to strengthen the resilience of our local food systems and create an effective global trading system responsive to the vagaries of climate change. It’ll be interesting to see the Trade and Investment Center discussions to chart the path toward a more resilient global food future.