The President-Designate of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), Mukhtar Babayev, held an online meeting with members of the COP29 NGO Coalition on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
The event provided local and international NGOs with an opportunity to engage in open dialogue with the COP29 Presidency and Azerbaijan’s civil society ahead of the climate negotiations in Baku.
Key participants in the meeting included COP29 Climate Change High-Level Champion, Nigar Arpadarai; COP29 Youth Climate Champion, Leyla Hasanova; the Liaison Officer with the UNFCCC Observer Organizations and representative of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, Shahriyar Hajiyev; and the COP29 Presidency’s Liaison Officer at the UNFCCC Secretariat (Bonn), Toghrul Feyziyev.
The COP29 NGO Coalition, established in July 2024 through an initiative by the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum, now includes 260 NGOs from 60 countries, representing a broad spectrum of civil society.
The coalition ensures that NGOs, especially those affiliated with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), contribute their views to the ongoing climate talks.
Nigerian Delegates Push for Climate Finance
During the meeting, Nigerian representatives raised critical issues concerning climate finance, urging the COP29 Presidency to prioritize this area as the conference draws near.
Nigerian participants emphasized the need for consensus on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, which addresses the pressing needs of vulnerable nations.
“Climate finance must not only support mitigation efforts but also ensure that adaptation and loss and damage measures are adequately funded, particularly for nations in the Global South like Nigeria.”
They further recommended the introduction of NGO-specific grants to aid grassroots climate initiatives in developing countries. The Nigerian delegation argued that NGOs working on the ground have a unique capacity to drive innovation, raise awareness, and directly assist communities impacted by climate change.
Proposals for Climate Victims Support
In their submissions, Nigerian representatives also proposed several measures to support victims of climate disasters. They called for the establishment of a Global Climate Solidarity Fund that would focus on providing immediate financial assistance to countries devastated by climate-related disasters. The aim according to them is to ensure that vulnerable countries can rebuild their communities swiftly.
The participants also highlighted the importance of collaboration between governments, international institutions, and local actors, including environmental journalists. They said this would ensure that climate finance reaches those most in need.
Others include creating a climate victims insurance mechanism, saying such an insurance mechanism, supported by international donors, could serve as a safety net for those who lose homes, and livelihoods or suffer health impacts due to climate change.
Commendation for COP29 Leadership
The Nigerian participants praised the COP29 Presidency’s commitment to promoting climate transparency, inclusivity, and finance. “These actions not only strengthen global cooperation but also ensure that the most vulnerable voices, including those from Nigeria, are heard,” said a representative from the Nigerian delegation.
The COP29 NGO Coalition, which includes eight of the nine UNFCCC constituencies, is seen as an essential platform to ensure civil society’s views are represented in this year’s climate negotiations. With COP29 fast approaching, the meeting underscored the need for unified efforts to address the global climate finance agenda, with Nigerian voices contributing to shaping the future of climate action.
By Dare Akogun
