During the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 13 to 22 November, ESCWA organized a series of activities and initiatives and contributed to others, focusing on key themes such as water, food, energy, climate change adaptation, and environmental resilience.
A key highlight was the co-organization of the thematic day on “Watering the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans (NAPs)”. Organized in collaboration with WaterAid and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), this event featured regional roundtables, a high-level panel and operational session on interactive tools for wa2tering the NDCs. The discussions emphasized lessons learned and best practices for integrating water into the next round of NDCs and NAPs, which are due for submission to the UNFCCC in 2025.
ESCWA also highlighted the importance of innovative financial mechanisms like Climate/ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Debt swap initiative and the importance of evidence-based adaptation during a side event organized by the Ministry of Environment of Tunisia as well as a session on Bridging National Goals and Local Action” at the Iraqi Pavillion.
Given the rising environmental challenges, the Ministry of Environment of Iraq and ESCWA organized a side event that addresses the increasing challenge posed by sand and dust storms under climate change and increasing water scarcity.
Sustainable energy was another prominent theme at COP29, with ESCWA presenting regional initiatives aimed at accelerating the transition to renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency. Discussions also covered innovative financing mechanisms for energy projects, regional energy integration, and capacity-building initiatives across urban and rural areas.
On the sidelines of the Conference, ESCWA actively engaged with the Arab Group of Negotiators held at the League of Arab States (LAS) pavilion, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based approaches to strengthen climate resilience in key sectors such as water, energy, transport, and agriculture.
ESCWA also contributed to a session organized by ICESCO on food systems transformation and water management., The session showcased actionable strategies to integrate scientific research into policy frameworks, promote regional cooperation, and adopt global best practices tailored to the unique priorities of Arab states.
Through these activities and initiatives, ESCWA reaffirmed its pivotal role in supporting Arab countries in addressing climate challenges, fostering regional cooperation, and developing sustainable, evidence-based policies to achieve the SDGs.
