EDF’s key priorities for COP29

COP29 is a big event, but it’s only one piece of our long-term roadmap to make progress on our global climate goals. Here’s what you need to know about how EDF is showing up to Baku.

Climate actions that bend the curve now

What happens over the next five years is of profound importance if we are to head off the worst effects of a warming world. We’re prioritizing solutions that can deliver near-term climate wins:

  • Slashing methane emissions: EDF is making sure that companies in the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter deliver on their COP28 commitments to slash methane from last year.
     
  • Transforming sustainable food systems: EDF is working with farmers and companies to accelerate win-win solutions for animal health and climate.
     
  • Protecting nature in partnership with Indigenous peoples: EDF is working to rapidly drive large-scale conservation of rainforests and mobilize finance to Indigenous peoples. At COP29, EDF is working with Indigenous peoples and local communities to ensure they have the resources and decision-making power to safeguard nature.

These actions can make a big difference in the next five years to slow warming and protect communities from the climate impacts we’re already experiencing.

Quality climate finance

COP29 is being called the “Finance COP” — and EDF is advocating for innovative and high-quality finance:

  • Mobilizing innovative climate finance tools will be crucial to leveraging the private sector finance needed to scale up climate action. The voluntary carbon market is one tool with promise to deliver impactful climate finance, but its effectiveness hinges on high integrity, strong governance and transparency frameworks. The COP29 discussions around Article 6 of the Paris Agreement will be consequential to this — and EDF will be tracking the negotiations closely.
     
  • A major milestone is expected at COP29 on international climate finance, and EDF is advocating for COP negotiators to prioritize quality — not just quantity — when they decide on a new global climate finance goal at COP29. The quality of climate finance is critical to ensure money is accessible to the countries and communities that need it most, without creating more financial burdens.
     
  • EDF is encouraging countries and companies to boost ambition ahead of COP30. Next year is a milestone year for the climate fight. Countries need to update their national climate plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), by COP30 in Brazil. COP29 is a springboard for countries and companies to amp up ambition, mobilize finance and drive forward actions that slash emissions now. Let’s make it count.