Looking back at COP 29: Less coordination more action

The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) set a target of $300 billion annually by 2035, yet it remains far below the $1.3 trillion needed to address climate impacts and meet adaptation needs. The goal’s lack of clarity on who will contribute and in what form, coupled with controversial voluntary contributions from developing nations like China and the UAE, left many feeling frustrated. Particularly, the most vulnerable countries expressed dissatisfaction with the insufficient ambition and lack of concrete plans to meet the 1.5°C global temperature target.

The Least Developing Countries Group expressed in an official statement. "Once again, the countries most responsible for the climate crisis have failed us. We leave Baku without an ambitious climate finance goal, without concrete plans to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, and without the comprehensive support desperately needed for adaptation and loss and damage."

On food systems, a modest step forward was made on the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Climate Action for Agriculture and Food Security (SSJW), building on COP27’s decision. Key outcomes included enhancing the online portal for sharing climate action projects and approving a roadmap for further development. This includes annual reports starting in 2025 and two workshops in 2025 and 2026 on climate action in agriculture.

Meanwhile, the sessions on the Convergence Initiative underscored the importance of integrating food systems and climate plans through inclusive participation. Supporting the Emirates Declaration and the Secretary-General’s Call to Action, the initiative aims to expand its reach to 20 countries by COP30. As emphasized by Wampie Libon from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, during the session, “we need everybody to take this forward. At each step, from strategic consultations to policy adaptation, we must build our capacity to tackle interconnected climate and food challenges head-on.”

Looking ahead to COP30 in Belém, the hope is that next year will bring more decisive action and commitments to tackle the pressing global climate challenges.

See here for more insights and reflections on COP 29:

• Oliver Camp’s - GAIN - Debrief (and Looking Ahead) on Food Systems at COP 29
  

• ISSD - Good COP? Bad COP?: Food systems at COP29
  

• Food Systems Coordination Hub: Converging food systems and climate action: Insights from COP29
  

• FAO at COP29: Calling for investment in agrifood systems to tackle the climate crisis
  

• CGIAR: Agriculture at COP29: A Vital Conversation for Climate and Food Security
  

• Danush Dinesh - Clim-Eat - reflects on COP 29
  

• CarbonBrief - COP29: Key outcomes for food, forests, land and nature at the UN climate talks in Baku
  

This is just a small selection of what’s out there. If you have something to add, feel free to share it with us by sending an email to: r.vandevelde@nlfoodpartnership.com