Baku: The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, attracting wide international participation with a renewed focus on advancing global climate action.
The summit aims to align global priorities with practical capabilities, turning them into achievable and fair outcomes.
During the main session, the United Arab Emirates officially transferred the COP presidency to Azerbaijan, remaining an important partner in driving forward global climate diplomacy efforts.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, delivered his handover address as COP28 President, concluding a landmark term defined by breakthrough progress across the climate agenda.
In his handover speech at COP29, Al Jaber urged all Parties to “unite, act, and deliver.” Reflecting on COP28, Al Jaber praised the “historic UAE Consensus” for achieving milestones many thought impossible and highlighting the power of multilateralism.
Al Jaber also emphasized the UAE’s commitment to partnership, thanked leadership for their support, and noted that the UAE Consensus is now central to global climate efforts, focusing on a just energy transition, tripling renewable energy, doubling energy efficiency, and ending deforestation by 2030.
Al Jaber highlighted recent collaborative progress, such as a climate and energy summit in Abu Dhabi, demonstrating that cross-sector partnerships can drive both economic growth and emissions reductions.
United. Acted. Delivered.
Watch how COP28 made climate action history as the UAE hands over the COP Presidency.#COP28 #UAEConsensus #COP29 pic.twitter.com/6eqeHVQVJL
— COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) November 11, 2024
Looking ahead, Dr. Al Jaber called for a New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, strong enough to fully implement the UAE Consensus and also introduced the COP Presidencies Troika, a coalition of COP28, COP29, and COP30 Presidencies, to maintain momentum and continuity in climate action.
Concluding his speech with a call to action for incoming COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, Dr. Al Jaber remarked that, “The consensus achieved in Dubai was historic, but history will judge us by our actions, not our words. Let positivity drive the process, let results endure beyond rhetoric, and remember that we are defined by our actions, not our statements.”
At COP29, the UAE pavilion showcases the nation’s progress toward sustainability, climate neutrality, and its efforts to balance economic growth with environmental protection.
A key focus at COP29 is the “Global Climate Finance Framework,” which seeks funding for developing nations to address climate impacts.
The summit centers on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), the new annual climate finance target replacing the $100 billion pledge, which expires this year.