Regions4 at COP29
Enhancing Ambition, Enabling Action: COP29’s Vision for Equitable Climate Finance
đź“… 11-22 November 2024, Baku, AzerbaijanÂ
UN Climate Change ConferenceÂ
As the world faces unprecedented environmental and social challenges, the urgency for bold and coordinated action has never been clearer. The destruction of natural ecosystems, deepening climate vulnerabilities, and escalating social inequalities demand an immediate and united response. At the heart of this effort are the regions—subnational governments that bridge global aspirations with local realities.Â
As we approach the UN Climate Change Conference it is imperative to recognize and empower regional actors. Their leadership and innovation are essential to bridging the gap between ambition and action, ensuring that climate finance reaches where it is needed most, and accelerating the transition to a more equitable and sustainable future. Now is the time to act, to support and invest in regions as catalysts for change. Together, we can harness their potential to tackle the pressing challenges of our time and secure a livable world for generations to come. Â
COP29 HIGHLIGHTS
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Two Pillars of the COP29 Vision: Enhance Ambition and Enable Action.
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Agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), increase climate finance, and mobilise the private sector.
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All countries should have NAPs in place by 2025, with a focus on scaling up adaptation finance. Also ensure that all Parties submit ambitious NDCs aligned with the 1.5°C goal by 2025, informed by the GST.
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Operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund, and of Article 6 to support carbon markets.
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Early and accurate submissions of the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs).
Regions4 at COP29
Unprecedented Challenges Demand Renewed Multilateralism
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In the context of significant global challenges and key summits, including the UN SDG Summit of the Future, COP16 on Biological Diversity, UNEP INC-5 on Plastic Pollution, and COP29 on Climate Change, it is imperative to establish a renewed, inclusive multilateral system. This system must engage all levels of government in a synergistic approach to address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Global Sustainable Development Report 2023 warns that only 18% of the SDGs are on track, with notable setbacks in climate action and biodiversity conservation, underscoring the urgency of coordinated global action, that includes all levels of governments.
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The Critical Need for Immediate Action
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The destruction of natural ecosystems is exacerbating climate vulnerabilities and deepening social inequalities. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse are rapidly escalating global risks, threatening future generations. Immediate and concerted action is essential to combat pollution, particularly plastic pollution, and to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns to safeguard both the environment and human health.
Regions4 key messagesÂ
LGMA key messagesÂ
As a key advocate for the role of subnational governments in climate action, Regions4 has been part of the drafting committee of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency COP29 positions, and is now inviting its members to endorse  by sending their logos. A final list of endorsers of the joint position will be announced at the LGMA press conference on 11 November 2024.
Explore the details of the LGMA COP29 positions papers here, with it key 3 asks at COP29 highlighted below:Â
Regions4 events
1. High-level event “Building the Business Case for Climate Finance at the Subnational Level”
đź“… Saturday 16th November, 15-16.30 h (local time) | Venue: UNFCCC Official Side Event 2Â
Lead organisers:Â This event is collaboratively organised by MAIA EU Project partners and esteemed external partners including: Regions4, Climate KIC, Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB), the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Athena Research Center (ARC), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), ICLEI, Under2 Coalition, GIZ, and CDP.Â
Description: The event aims to mobilise support for the crucial role of subnational actors in achieving global climate goals and advancing sustainable development. Key objectives include increasing financial resources at the subnational level and facilitating subnational access to existing funds, aligning climate finance with local priorities, enhancing collaboration among stakeholders—particularly the private sector—and showcasing innovative financial solutions by subnational actors.
Registration link: available soon.
On invitation only.
2. High-level event “From Cali to Belem: the leadership of subnational governments for climate action and Biodiversity”
đź“… Date Saturday 16th November, 09:30-11:00 (local time) | Venue: Italian pavilion
Lead organisers: Regions4 and the Government of the Lombardy Region
Partners: TBC
Description: The intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss require coordinated financial responses, with regional governments crucial for driving mitigation and adaptation actions. They connect local and national efforts, enabling accelerated and integrated solutions. This event examines subnational governments’ leadership and how the international community can support them when looking at the global discussions on global finance for climate action.
On invitation only.
Regions4 partner events
Information coming soon.
Region4 publications
Information coming soon.
Follow our RegionsVoice campaign
RegionsVoice: Empowering regional governments to shape a sustainable future
#RegionsVoiceÂ
In 2019 Regions4 launched the global campaign #RegionsVoice in a collective effort to bring the voice of regional governments to the major events and negotiation processes in sustainable development within the UN.
The aim of the campaign is to ensure the visibility and wider recognition of the role of regional governments in sustainable development, by elevating both individual and collective messages and engaging with a wider audience during the UN Decade of Action.
Explore the X stories from X regional governments that were shared by #RegionsVoice at COP29 on its dedicated page here.
Regions4 initiatives
- RegionsAdapt is our climate flagship initiative dedicated to empowering subnational governments worldwide to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is also the platform where subnational can report on and track progress on climate adaptation, and showcase their action and ambition within the Regions Race to Resilience;
- Regions4 is also supporting its members in climate action projects: building resilience for EU regions in the Pathways2Resilience project, connecting science and policy for action in the MAIA project, and buiding capacity of Francophone African Regions through the COOP’R project.
Media Resources
Follow us
>> Twitter: @Regions4SD
>> LinkedIn:@regions4
>>Â YouTube: @regions4561
Press Releases/Articles
>>Â Coming soon
Social Media Kit
>> Coming soon
Photo Gallery
>> Coming soon
Media Clipping
>> Coming soon
Press/Communications Contact
>> Soraia Ribeiro sribeiro@regions4.org
Join us!
We welcome the participation of all regional governments at Regions4 activities at COP29. Do not hesitate to contact us!
HĂ©loĂŻse Chicou, responsible
of this project:
HĂ©loĂŻse Chicou
Climate Action and Resilience Programme Manager
climate@regions4.org