COP29 opened this morning in Baku, Azerbaijan, amid growing climate urgency. With severe weather events increasingly affecting countries around the world, especially those most vulnerable, world leaders and negotiators are facing intense pressure to secure real commitments to climate finance and emissions reduction.
Developing nations, hit hardest by climate-related disasters, are demanding stronger financial support and clear action to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
This year’s COP focuses on two main goals:
Raising ambition through more transparent national commitments
Ensuring the essential funding needed to reduce emissions and support climate adaptation.
These aims are designed to drive progress towards the global climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement.
Below are key statements from COP29’s opening ceremony, as leaders shared powerful messages on the road ahead and called for decisive action.
COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev:
"Colleagues, we are on a road to ruin. But these are not future problems. Climate change is already here.
Whether you see them or not, people are suffering in the shadows. They are dying in the dark, and they need more than compassion, more than thoughts, prayers, and paperwork. They are calling for leadership and action. COP29 is an unmissable chance to set a new path forward for everyone.
We need much more from all of you. COP29 is a moment of truth for the Paris Agreement. It will test our commitment to the global climate system. Now, we must show that we are ready to meet the goals we’ve set."
Outgoing COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber:
"I urge you all to prove once again that we can unite, act, and deliver.
Let me leave you with a final message: Let positivity drive the process. Let actions speak louder than words. Let results last longer than rhetoric. And remember, we are defined by what we do, not by what we say."
UNFCCC Climate Chief Simon Stiell:
"Here in Baku, we must agree on a new global climate finance goal. If at least two-thirds of the world’s nations cannot afford to cut emissions quickly, then every nation will pay a heavy price.
"If countries cannot make their supply chains more resilient, the entire global economy will be at risk. No country is immune.
"So, let’s stop thinking of climate finance as charity. An ambitious new climate finance goal is in every nation’s best interest, including the richest and largest.
"As the voices of their professions, industries, and sectors, trade associations and professional bodies must now take stronger climate leadership both within their own operations and in the sectors and industries they represent. If every membership organisation helped its members tackle the climate and sustainability challenges facing their industry, we would reach net zero faster. There is a huge opportunity for a greater volume of change here."
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The opening remarks at COP29 make it clear: addressing the climate crisis takes more than pledges; it requires united and impactful action across every sector. Trade associations and professional bodies have a vital role to play in making this change happen. As influential voices in their industries, these organisations are uniquely positioned to inspire members to adopt sustainable practices, innovate to reduce emissions, and invest in climate resilience.
If every association commits to leading its industry or profession towards a more sustainable future, the combined effect will significantly accelerate the global Race to Zero. With climate challenges reaching new levels of urgency, associations are not only participants but essential leaders in the journey towards a climate-resilient, net zero future.
COP29 highlights the opportunity and responsibility that these bodies hold. Now is the time for them to take action.
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