On the third day at COP29, the co-chairs of the NCQG contact group published a first iteration of a draft decision text for the COP29 Presidency’s top negotiating priority – a new climate finance goal.

The COP29 Presidency had encouraged the co-chairs to produce this draft as early as possible to guide conversations around potential landing zones and help to identify concerns.

Parties welcomed the decision to transition to a draft text and, for the first time in the three-year technical process, described it as a workable basis for discussion.

Commenting on the publication, the COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev said: “This is a significant step but there are still many options to be resolved.

"We now want to hear everyone’s views and we will create spaces for them to provide their inputs throughout COP29. But the parties must remember that the clock is ticking and we only have 10 days left.”

Support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

In attendance at COP29 for the second day in a row, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev addressed delegates at the Leaders’ Summit of the Small Island Developing States on Climate Change.

The summit was initiated by the Republic of Azerbaijan and co-hosted in conjunction with Samoa, Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States; Grenada, Chair of Caribbean Community; and Tonga, Chair of Pacific Islands Forum.

It provided a platform for leaders to come together and explore strategies to strengthen the resilience of SIDS against the impacts of climate change and enhance their access to climate finance, a priority of the COP29 Presidency.

In his address, President Aliyev emphasized that “the voices of SIDS must be heard on the global stage.”

He called for developed countries “to provide tangible financial and technical support to small island states so that they can protect their countries from climate change” and that the importance of helping these states is “at the centre of Azerbaijan’s efforts at COP29."

Speaking directly to the states, COP29 President Babayev commented: “The COP29 Presidency has been determined to make this an accessible conference that supports your participation and elevates your voices to the highest levels.

“Small island states have shown remarkable leadership by setting ambitious targets despite limited resources and now others must match this commitment.”

The Baku Declaration on Amplifying SIDS’ Voice at COP29 for a Resilient and Sustainable Future was also adopted. The declaration acknowledges the scale and magnitude of climate change, its disproportionate effects on vulnerable groups and the need for urgent action. It also reaffirms that SIDS’ special circumstances make them particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and how Azerbaijan has elevated the role of SIDS at COP29.

In support of SIDS, the COP29 Presidency and the Government of Azerbaijan financially supported the participation of relevant delegates at COP29 and preparatory meetings preceding the Conference. This support was in addition to assistance provided through the UNFCCC’s Trust Fund for Participation (TFP), to which the Government of Azerbaijan also pledged a contribution.

COP Presidencies Troika assembled to discuss a future of shared prosperity

The COP Presidencies Troika, comprised of the United Arab Emirates (COP28), the Republic of Azerbaijan (COP29), and Brazil (COP30), met today to take stock of the “Roadmap to Mission 1.5.” The group discussed what progress has been made in implementing the Global Stocktake outcome and what gaps remain in developing and implementing ambitious climate policies in the next rounds of NDCs. The event strengthened the coherence across the COP Presidencies and set clear priorities and strategic actions needed for 2025 to build upon COP28, to implement COP29 outcomes, and to ultimately pave the way for a successful COP30.

An address on early warnings

COP29 President Babayev joined the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres for a discussion on the progress made since the Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat on 25 July 2024 and the continued implementation of The Pillar Leads of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which aims to protect all humans from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.

Speaking about early warning and climate information services, COP29 President Babayev stressed the importance of ensuring “no community is left without these life-saving measures.” Along with the Secretary-General, he emphasized the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation on this pressing issue.

High-level engagement emphasises the importance of health

The day also placed a strong emphasis on health, with a high-level meeting featuring the COP29 Presidency, the WHO, Spain’s Secretary of State for Health, Mr. Javier Padilla Bernáldez, and representatives of the Presidencies of COP26 Glasgow, COP27 Sharm el-Sheikh, COP28 Dubai and COP30 Belem.

The meeting included discussion on how to formalise the role of health in the climate agenda, leverage the collective experiences of former COP Presidencies and ensure alignment and continuity across all health-focused initiatives. It also sought to establish health as a core feature of future COP conferences.

This follows the agreement announced on the previous day between the WHO and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) regarding the operationalisation of the Health Impact Investment Platform (HIIP).

Closing of World Leaders Climate Action Summit

Of the 70,000 registered delegates for COP29, 80 Heads of States, Governments and Vice Presidents attended the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit.

Those in attendance made statements on how they are advancing the Paris Agreement on climate change, including remarks made today by Mr. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy for the United States and Her Excellency Ms. Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy.