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COP29 and Local Climate Action

  • Writer: Rebecca Chan
    Rebecca Chan
  • Dec 6, 2024
  • 4 min read

Reflections on the narratives and discussions at COP29

 

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (or COP29) took place this month in Baku, Azerbaijan. The annual Conference of Parties convened state actors, as well as non-governmental organisations and other public and private stakeholders. From 11 to 22 November, these representative stakeholders discussed and legislated actions in response to the human-caused climate crisis[1], such as: 


● Financing climate action,

● Improving transparency in the reporting of emissions,

● Updating emissions reduction targets (Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs),

● Regulating carbon markets,

● Accelerating and enabling adaptation to climate risks, and

● Facilitating a Just Transition away from fossil fuels.


The new UK government is presented with an opportunity to demonstrate the UK’s leadership in equitable climate policy and action. Among other contributions to the global effort, it is expected to emphasise its commitment to local climate action. As recommended by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the UK has committed to an 81% emissions reduction target by 2035 (compared with the 1990 emissions levels)[2]. 

 

How COP29 relates to Local Authorities’ daily work

At times, COP29 could seem remote to work that supports our local environment and communities. However, the way issues are debated and progressed could provide interesting insights for our daily work in planning and implementing climate programmes in cities and neighbourhoods.


At COP29, many national government Parties began to review and update their NDC targets for 2035. For Local Authorities, this is an opportunity to understand the Government's level of ambition for emissions reductions, as well as the sectors where policy and funding will be focused. The renewed emphasis on decarbonising energy generation is particularly encouraging - as the policy, standards and national grid infrastructure needed to facilitate the transition to renewable energy are outside of the policy powers of Local Authorities. Such national-level action would go a long way to boost the efficacy of local retrofits for around the electrification and improved energy efficiency of the heating and fixtures in our buildings.


COP29 worked towards further definition to the global goal for adaptation (GGA) to support countries’ analysis and planning. However, extreme climate events throughout 2024 - such as heatwaves in Southeast Asia, heavy rainfall and flooding in Brazil, wildfires in Canada and tornadoes in the USA[3] - have emphasised the real and present need to increase communities’ resilience to intensifying climate hazards. Many Local Authorities are already studying local climate risks and addressing them via physical and social infrastructure. Sharing learnings and advocating for national coordination could lead the way in addressing the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change hazards.


In this respect, both national governments and Local Authorities have similar challenges in financing climate solutions. The COP29 discussions around allocating funds across emissions reduction, climate adaptation and loss and damage compensation[4] mirror the decisions Local Authorities have to make.

 

Continuing to lead the way with local action

This tension that Local Authorities face is at the heart of climate action at every level of government: balancing immediate action to respond to critical conditions with actions that are long-term and transformative. At times, climate action may even seem like a luxury compared to responding to local socioeconomic deprivation. However, many climate actions actually produce other ‘co-benefits’, such as alleviating energy poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.


Local Authorities are not only best placed to directly understand and address the needs in the neighbourhoods and communities that they serve, but also advocate for specific solutions from the national government[5]. In many ways, national governments are taking notice and viewing sub-national governance as key to addressing climate change[6]. Some key considerations to further these efforts are:


  • Establishing Climate Governance within the organisation: Dedicating a specific team or cross-departmental working group with a mandate for climate action will go a long way to support consistent emissions and climate risk monitoring, climate action planning, and communicating the benefits of climate action.


  • Ensuring that climate action programmes are equitable in planning and outcomes: Including check-points in the design and delivery of climate programmes to evaluate if they benefit the most at-risk or deprived communities will ensure that no one gets left behind in the transition to more sustainable lifestyles.


  • Developing relationships with local communities and organisations: Collaborating with local organisations and creating safe spaces for more people to discuss and implement climate action will not only enable climate action to be more precise and effective, but also allows more people to take ownership of the sustainability of their communities and enjoy its benefits.

 

The excitement and debates of every COP highlight the dynamic nature of the work required over the coming months and years. We can take encouragement from the progress made and be aware of the challenges at the national level, whilst continuing to build healthier, equitable and sustainable futures for our local communities. 

 

Rebecca Chan is a climate action practitioner with over nine years of experience in decarbonisation solutions, facilitating community participation, and thinking about how equitable policy can deliver local socioeconomic benefits in cities.


She led the collaboration with the London Borough of Newham for its Just Transition Plan in 2023, and prior to Arup managed C40 Cities’ Climate Action Planning Programme in Southeast Asia.


If you have any questions on this topic, or would like support, please contact your Delivery Associate, or email DeliveryAssociatesNetwork@Arup.com

 
Links to useful information:
 

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