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Taking legislative action post-COP29

The 29th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) concluded on November 23, 2024, yielding several significant outcomes detailed below.


As the window to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C narrows, the urgency for decisive action has never been greater. Parliaments play a key role as decision-makers and in holding the executive branch accountable to their commitments. It is imperative that we act swiftly and collaboratively to meet these climate goals.

   

Highlights of COP29

  • A new finance goal, formally known as “New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance” increased finance to at least USD 300 billion annually by 2035, and developing countries are encouraged to make contributions on a voluntary basis. It was also agreed that the NCQG will not address Loss and Damage. 
  • An agreement on the operationalization of carbon markets was established, outlining how countries will authorize the trade of carbon credits and how registries will track these transactions (article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement). The agreement also sets standards for a centralized carbon market under the UN, known as the "Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism" (article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement). This mechanism will ensure that carbon market activities are aligned with human rights and informed by the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Consensus was not reached on the UAE Dialogue on Implementing the Global Stocktake Outcomes, a text first developed at COP28 that included language on transitioning away from fossil fuels. As a result, its adoption will be re-discussed at COP30.
  • The Lima Work Programme on gender was extended 10 years, however inclusion of language around intersectionality was removed despite efforts to include it. 
  • COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Action in Tourism was launched in partnership with UN Tourism. It includes commitments from endorsers to promote sustainable tourism by, for example, its integration in national climate and environmental policies.
  • A declaration on Green Digital Action was created to accelerate climate-positive digitalisation, improve energy efficiency, and promote inclusive digital access.
  • The Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) launched a joint statement advocating for Inclusive Green Productive Development in Latin America and the Caribbean and beyond; it currently is open for additional parliamentary signatories. 
A variety of other commitments were also announced; view them all at the Global Climate Action Portal. For decisions adopted and the accompanying texts, please view the UNFCCC outcomes of the Baku Climate Change Conference database. 

Suggested parliamentary actions post-COP29 

  1. Request that your country’s government officials, national negotiation team, and/or parliamentary delegation to COP29 present the national commitments made at COP29 in the parliament’s plenary.

  2. Assess whether climate legislation and policies are gender-sensitive, and determine if there are initiatives to enhance the availability of sex-disaggregated data. Ensure this data is shared among ministries and used to inform decision-making.

  3. Inquire if your country is on track to meet its own national climate and environmental objectives, and if there is an established plan for ensuring that an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), aligned with the 1.5°C target, will be presented in time for COP30 next year. (See your country’s current NDC.) 

  4. Examine how work on the three Rio Conventions is being conducted and whether it is being done in a holistic manner. 

  5. Request an evaluation of current climate and environmentally-related legislation and national plans such as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), national development plan, disaster risk reduction management plans, and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAPs) are aligned with the goals and priorities of relevant multilateral environmental agreements.

  6. Examine whether your country’s current budget and/or future budgets align with the implementation of climate goals. 

  7. Assess how sustainable tourism and climate-positive digitalisation are being implemented in your country, and if these can be included in climate or environmental policies.

See 7 action points covering how parliamentarians can support biodiversity post-COP16 on ParlAmericas' Instagram or Facebook. 

   

Resources to help guide parliamentary action

  • ParlAmericas’ joint publication, Parliaments and the Paris Agreement, features a checklist of questions to assess climate action in your country and quick descriptions of the different mechanisms of the Paris Agreement. 
  • IPU’s 10 Actions for Stronger National Climate Commitments explains what an NDC is, and 10 ways parliaments can exercise effective oversight over their development. 
  • UNFCCC’s NDC 3.0 Navigator is an interactive tool that supports the development of NDCs, helping to identify routes to ambitious and implementable NDCs.
  • World Resources’ Institute Climate Watch Platform tracks and evaluates countries' NDCs and provides tools and guidelines for decision-makers to assess progress.

    To learn more about ParlAmericas’ work on Climate Change, please visit our website or contact Maria Boada, Senior Program Officer - Climate Change at 

    maria.boada@parlamericas.org.