EDF at COP29: Schedule of events
Environmental Defense Fund is working with partners to drive climate action at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov. 11-22, 2024. A selection of key events EDF experts will attend is below, with sessions organized by EDF highlighted. Additional events will be added as they’re confirmed.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
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Charting methane action: Taking stock of oil and gas methane commitments
Hosted by EDF
9:45-10:30 a.m. AZT (GMT+4)
Baku Stadium, Blue Zone, Methane Action Hub (Pavilion J1)
By invitation onlyPollution caused by burning fossil fuels is driving unprecedented warming. Without immediate action to cut emissions, the most recent United Nations Environment Programme Emissions Gap Report warns that the remaining carbon budget to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius will likely be depleted by 2030, highlighting the urgency of tackling methane. Join experts to discuss a new accountability framework, released in September at Climate Week NYC, designed to go beyond target setting and emissions disclosure. This framework will assess whether and how the oil and gas industry is ensuring methane emissions and flaring targets are met in full and on time by 2030.
EDF speakers include:
- Mark Brownstein, Senior Vice President, Energy Transition, Environmental Defense Fund
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Mobilizing investment in emerging markets: Challenges and innovations for climate finance
Co-hosted by EDF, with the Investor Leadership Network (ILN) and Columbia Climate School
4:30-5:30 p.m. AZT (GMT+4), Resilience Pavilion
Open to all with a Blue Zone badgeEmerging markets are experiencing the most severe climate impacts while being critically underfunded for both mitigation and adaptation efforts. Mobilizing investment capital to address these challenges is essential. This session will explore pioneering strategies for accelerating financial flows to these regions. The discussion will spotlight practical and innovative solutions, such as blended finance models, advanced risk mitigation mechanisms, and impact-driven investment frameworks that mobilize private sector capital. Attendees will gain insights into how partnerships and strategic financial instruments can drive real progress.
EDF speakers include:
- Leslie Labruto, Director of Sustainable Finance, Environmental Defense Fund
Thursday, Nov. 14
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Unlocking capital for NOC methane abatement
Hosted by EDF
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. AZT (GMT+4)
Baku Stadium, Blue Zone, Methane Action Hub (Pavilion J1)
By invitation onlyNational Oil Companies (NOCs) are large methane emitters and play a critical role in addressing climate change. Reducing methane emissions from NOCs is critical for limiting the rate of warming this decade. At COP28, more than 50 oil and gas companies, including 30 NOCs, pledged to cut methane and flaring emissions to near-zero by 2030. However, delivering on these pledges is complex, and NOCs face competing priorities. Hear from leading finance and climate experts as they discuss the emerging resources available to help NOCs and host governments navigate the challenges and deliver on their commitments in time.
EDF speakers include:
- Mark Brownstein, Senior Vice President, Energy Transition, Environmental Defense Fund
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Catalyzing smallholder farmer adaptation through improved climate finance: Closing the quantity and quality gaps
Co-hosted by EDF, with One Acre Fund and SDG2 Advocacy Hub
11:30 a.m. AZT (GMT+4), Action on Food Hub, Blue Zone
Open to all with a Blue Zone badgeIncreasing access and availability of climate finance for 500 million smallholder farmers, with a further 2 billion people relying on them for food and income, is essential for fostering resilience, food security and sustainable agriculture globally in the face of climate change. Yet, according to Climate Policy Initiative, only 0.3% of climate finance today reaches smallholder farmers. This session aims to highlight the finance gap for a more climate-resilient food system and advocate for a transformative approach to climate finance for smallholder farmers as the cornerstone of this transition.
Saturday, Nov. 16
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Mission possible: The value of methane satellites in solving the climate crisis
Hosted by EDF
2:15-3:30 p.m. AZT (GMT+4)
Baku Stadium, Blue Zone, Methane Action Hub (Pavilion J1)
By invitation onlyAs urgency for rapid methane reductions grows, remote-sensing technologies — from drones and aircraft to next-generation satellites like MethaneSAT and Carbon Mapper — are transforming methane detection. These innovative platforms deliver continuous, policy-relevant data from multiple perspectives, enabling policymakers and industry to synthesize information for a more accurate understanding of emissions. This event will explore how, with enhanced transparency, governments and the oil and gas sector can better target actions, improve reporting and verification, and accelerate progress toward meeting their climate commitments.
EDF speakers include:
- Steve Hamburg, Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
Monday, Nov. 18
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Aquatic foods for climate action: Showcasing solutions to increase ambition
Hosted by EDF
4:45-6:15 p.m. AZT (GMT+4), Side Event Room 2, Blue Zone
Open to all with a Blue Zone badgeBlue or aquatic foods are a critical climate solution to supply low-carbon, high-quality nutrition for the growing global population. They hold enormous potential for increasing food security and economic growth in developing countries, while providing critical adaptation and mitigation solutions. This side event will showcase the commitment of countries, climate funders, and international organizations in spurring climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience actions for blue foods — be it through investment, inclusion in NDCs, or implementation of policies and programs. This event will also present the NDC fish guidelines illustrating how the aquatic food sector can be an integral part of national efforts.
Wednesday, Nov. 20
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Accelerating animal health solutions for human health and the climate
Co-hosted by EDF, with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
10-11 a.m. AZT (GMT+4), Action on Food Hub, Blue Zone
Open to all with a Blue Zone badgeThis event will show how animal health is connected to climate, and how countries can incorporate animal health interventions to fulfill their climate plans for near-term wins.
EDF speakers include:
- John Tauzel, Senior Director, Global Agriculture Methane, Environmental Defense Fund
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Valuing the twilight zone: Protecting mesopelagic species for biodiversity and climate regulation
Co-hosted by EDF, with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Ocean Conservancy
1:30-2:30 p.m. AZT (GMT+4), Ocean Pavilion
Open to all with a Blue Zone badgeFound between 200-1,000 meters, the ocean twilight zone, or mesopelagic, is home to upwards of 90% of the fish biomass on the planet. Mesopelagic species serve as prey for many commercially and ecologically important species and play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate. The ocean twilight zone is unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation and degradation from fishing, deep-sea mining and climate change. The discussion will emphasize the importance of scientific research, international collaboration and the integration of Indigenous knowledge to ensure the protection of this critical ocean area in alignment with biodiversity conservation and climate goals.
EDF speakers include:
- Kristin Kleisner, Associate Vice President of Ocean Science, Environmental Defense Fund
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Speeding up the transition to a just and equitable maritime sector that leaves no one behind
Hosted by EDF
5:30-6:30 p.m. AZT (GMT+4), SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone
Join this event alongside leaders in the shipping industry to discuss the global technical and economic measures proposed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). We will explore collaborative efforts to ensure that no country or person is left behind in the transition to a net zero emissions future for the maritime sector.