COP29 Key Take Aways, Negotiations, Side Events and Coverage

Share this to :

As the curtains close on COP29 in Baku, we reflect on two weeks of intense negotiations, side events, and discussions. The conference, branded as the “Finance COP,” set the stage for critical conversations about global climate goals, adaptation, and finance— at CGIAR we viewed these through the lens of food systems and agriculture.

This year, CGIAR played a significant role in advancing these conversations. At the Food and Agriculture Pavilion, we hosted over 44 events, highlighting efforts to drive adaptation and reduce emissions across food, land, and water systems. These events, along with CGIAR’s leadership in 8 official UNFCCC events, including a key session on Food and Agriculture Day, showcased our commitment to putting science and innovation at the forefront of climate solutions. Beyond the Pavilion, CGIAR colleagues participated in numerous side events, amplifying our mission and insights.

Our team also worked diligently to provide impactful knowledge products throughout the conference. From the launch of 9 Issue Briefs to inform COP29 to daily reflections and updates, we ensured that the critical intersections of food systems, finance, and equity were well-represented in global discussions

Key Takeaways from COP29

  • The adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) set at USD 300 billion annually 2035, alongside the agreement for all parties to work together to scale up finance to developing countries to USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2035.
  • The adoption of Article 6, which outlines the final framework for how carbon markets will function under the Paris Agreement, making the carbon crediting mechanism fully operational. The text also includes a clear mandate in Article 6.4 for the UN Carbon market to align with science.
  • The adoption of the new Global Goal of Adaption (GGA) text without intervention. The text launched the Baku Adaptation Roadmap and shifted the discussion of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to Bonn in June 2025.
  • The extension of the Lima Work Programme on Gender and Climate Change for another decade, reaffirming the importance of gender equality and advancing gender mainstreaming throughout the convention.
  • The Loss and Damage Fund is now operational. Pledges made during COP29 brought its total up from $674 to $759 million. Parties agreed that loss and damage would not be included under the NCQG finance and further discussions were deferred to future climate negotiations in June 2025.

Engage with Our Coverage

Throughout COP29, our team at CGIAR Climate Impact Platform worked tirelessly to document the key developments and insights through 11 Daily Briefs. These briefs offered a window into negotiation outcomes, reflections from experts, and highlights from the Pavilion. If you missed any updates, you can catch up on the daily briefs;

For those interested in reliving the moments, several sessions are available to watch on our YouTube channel.

Some Key Sessions

Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for Climate-Resilient Agrifood Systems 

 Launch of the 2024 Breakthrough Agenda Report: Agriculture 

Synergies between UNFCCC GGA Expert Group on Food, Water & Health and Adaptation Methodology Report in the AR7 IPCC cycle 

Just Transition Pathways to Achieve Paris Agreement Goals in the Agri-Food Sector

A Just Transition in the Agrifood System Aligning with the COP29 Harmoniya Initiative 

Acknowledgments

Our daily briefs and reporting on the negotiations would not be complete without recognizing the incredible contributors:

  • Negotiation Updates: Focal points and Teams
    • NCQG: Pedro Chilambe, Laura Salfi, Steve Leonard, Lidya Tesfaye, Dorcas Jalango, and Issa Ouedraogo
    • GGA: Lucy Njuguna, Santosh Nepal, and Aditi Mukherji,
    • Just Transition: Judith Koren, and Laura Rabago
    • Loss and Damage: Louise Jeanneau
    • Article 6: Eliza Villarino, and Steve Leonard
    • Agriculture: Daniela Miranda
  • Beyond the Pavilion: Laura Rabago 
  • Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation &Technical Cooperation Collaborative Events: Valeria Llano Arias
  • Event Reporting –Curation Lead: Regina Edward-Uwadiale
  • Daily Reflections (On behalf of CGIAR Climate Impact Platform): Regina Edward-Uwadiale
  • Newsletter Curation and Editor: Regina Edward–Uwadiale
  • Reviewer: Aditi Mukherji

As we close this chapter, we look ahead to COP30 in Brazil, where the momentum from Baku will carry forward.

 

Share this to :

Related news