News Release
Global MPs commit to support governments in stronger climate
action at COP29
Baku, Azerbaijan, 20 November 2024.
In a year marked by record heatwaves, devastating floods and intense storms, fuelled by global
heating, parliamentarians from around the world gathered on 16 and 17 November 2024 for the
Parliamentary Meeting
at COP29, the UN Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Organized by the IPU and the Milli Majlis, the Parliament of Azerbaijan, the Meeting brought
together over 300 MPs and experts from some 60 countries to hear the latest data and science,
and to exchange ideas on parliamentary action to address the climate emergency.
In their final
outcome document,
the parliamentarians agreed to encourage governments to
invest more in
“accelerating
the transition to clean,
in particular renewable, energy” as well as
“efforts to transition towards clean energy systems through gradual transition from fossil fuels
and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies in a just, orderly and equitable manner.”
They called on parliaments worldwide to support their governments in reducing non-CO2
emissions, especially methane, and to include specific targets in that regard in their national
climate commitments, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
With climate finance high on the agenda at COP29, MPs underlined the importance of
developed countries fulfilling their financial commitments to enhance climate financing for
developing nations and to urgently transfer loss and damage funding to vulnerable countries.
The document also encourages parliaments to harness the potential of artificial intelligence,
while minimizing its risks, to address climate change.
New tools for parliamentarians
At the meeting, the IPU launched a new guide,
10 actions for stronger national climate
commitments,
and a new toolkit,
Parliamentary oversight of national climate commitments,
to
encourage parliamentarians to enhance their oversight of NDCs.
The tools are essential for ensuring that countries meet their obligations under the Paris
Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
With the 2025 deadline for NDC submission fast approaching, the tools highlight a critical
window of opportunity for parliaments to shape their countries’ climate futures.
Quotes
Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, said: “Climate
change is
humanity’s
biggest challenge that goes beyond any national borders and demands collective efforts. It
gives me an immense pride and joy to see so many parliamentarians from around the world
joining us here today. It shows our unity for a common cause, with strong involvement in the