COP29

Over the last 20-years, my sustainability career has intersected three industries at the centre of climate action: policy, finance, and technology. Much like a team, these sectors work together, each with their unique strengths to drive climate progress at scale. But before I entered the field professionally, I began learning about sustainability and environmental protection […]

Meet Deepa Lama, Co-founder and President of Kalpavaatika Society Nepal, who is championing urban sustainability by transforming kitchen waste into compost and using rooftops for farming in Kathmandu. Her project, “Enhancing Urban Sustainability through Nature-based Solutions,” empowers over 500 community members to address waste management and food security challenges by composting organic waste and cultivating rooftop gardens.

Meet Nduka Miracle, Co-founder and Director at Kitovu Technology Company, who’s transforming Africa’s agriculture sector through climate-smart solutions for smallholder farmers. Kitovu’s innovations empower farmers to boost productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and cut emissions – paving the way for resilient, sustainable farming across Africa.

Meet Angela Chaudhuri, CEO & Chief Catalyst of global health organization, Swasti, who is redefining how communities, especially the most vulnerable, respond to climate-driven health risks through real-time data insights.

Week one of COP29 saw continued climate action and leadership from businesses, investors, cities, states, regions and civil society. As the daily Top of the COP newsletter demonstrates, progress and momentum continues to build across sectors and geographies, with non-State actors calling for high ambition COP outcomes, including a fair climate finance deal and strong […]

Multi-stakeholder initiative Resilience4Ports launches the first sectoral, action-based commitment to enhance and accelerate resilience of ports from the effects of climate change.

The Rwanda Fortified Whole Grain Program, launched in 2021 and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, focuses on incorporating fortified whole grain (FWG) maize flour into school feeding programmes to enhance students’ nutritional intake.

Deployment of cheap solar and wind is surging towards the global goal of tripling renewable capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 – with clean energy on course to meet half of all electricity demand worldwide. New actions announced today at COP29 in Baku have given the energy transition a further boost.

Daniel D’Elia da Costa, Finance Youth Fellow with the Climate Champions Team, shares his perspective on the critical intersection of climate finance and biodiversity as we look beyond COP29. Reflecting on recent global climate events, Daniel highlights the role of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action in mobilizing capital for nature-based solutions and building bridges between project developers and financiers. With Brazil’s upcoming role as COP30 host, Daniel envisions a future where financial stakeholders champion both climate and biodiversity goals, transforming regional challenges into global opportunities for sustainable growth.

In a world where “systems change” is frequently cited as essential for tackling global challenges, what does the term truly mean? Why do we refer to these structures as “systems,” and what does transforming them actually entail? Richard Shen, Climate Champions Systems Transformation Youth Fellow, explores these questions through a nuanced perspective on green demand and systems thinking.

Meet Miguel A. Torres, President of Familia Torres, who’s redefining winemaking with bold climate action – from slashing CO₂ emissions to powering vineyards sustainably, he’s proving that great wine and a healthy planet go hand in hand.

Meet Franny Collingham, founder of Wild Clouds, a sustainable fashion brand dedicated to reimagining design and production with sustainability at its core. Driven by a commitment to ethical practices, Franny ensures every detail – from compostable fabrics to plastic-free trims – reflects her vision of thoughtful, low-impact fashion.

Meet Impact Maker Ragy Ramadan Ahmed Shehata, Founder & CEO of NoorNation in Cairo, Egypt. Discover his journey to deliver innovative climate solutions like LifeBox, bringing clean energy and safe water to underserved communities across Africa.

Meet Khaled Noby Mohamed, Executive Director of Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), where he’s working to balance renewable energy growth with biodiversity protection in Egypt. As renewable energy projects expand, Khaled is leading critical efforts to safeguard Egypt’s unique ecosystems, from migratory birds to vulnerable native species.

Meet Gilberto Ribeiro, Partner and CIO of VOX Capital, leading climate finance innovations for sustainable energy and land use in Brazil. Gilberto’s work mobilizes funds to address Brazil’s environmental challenges, from deforestation to sustainable agriculture.

Meet Lynn von Koch-Liebert, Head of Climate, Energy & Infrastructure at Lendistry, who is championing equitable access to climate finance. Lynn is dedicated to ensuring underserved communities and small businesses have the capital to lead in the clean energy transition.

Race to Resilience Youth Fellow, Ferdison Valmond, explains how inclusive climate action can create a more resilient and sustainable world. Valmond highlights the campaign’s commitment to empowering underrepresented groups to ensure they play an active role in shaping climate resilience efforts.

Climate Champions’ Youth Fellow, Amal Ridene sheds light on scaling adaptation finance at COP29, where adaptation funding and private sector engagement are central to closing the climate resilience gap. As finance remains underfunded, COP29 offers new opportunities for impactful investment in adaptation.

Meet Ramil Azmammadov, CEO of Dr. Agro, who’s empowering Azerbaijani farmers to make data-driven decisions for sustainable yields. Dr. Agro’s platform equips farmers with tools for crop planning, budgeting, disease alerts, and climate insights – helping them navigate challenges and increase productivity.

Launched in the lead-up to COP 29 (taking place from 11-22 November in Baku, Azerbaijan), the 2024 Yearbook is the eighth of the series published by UNFCCC, which provides an overview of the progress, trends and challenges of real-world climate action taken by non-Party stakeholders, to inspire further actions and raise ambition.

Distinguished economist and finance expert Vera Songwe has been instrumental in shaping discussions on Africa’s economic future, and the global climate finance agenda at large. On the eve of COP 29 in Baku, Songwe discusses the role of climate finance, green industrialization, and the need for global cooperation to combat the climate crisis.