High-Level Climate Champions

Discover the transformative strategies of over 450 non-state actors in our upcoming online event, "Nature Positive For Climate Action: Case Study Presentation." Launching online on October 14th, details the integration of nature-based solutions into global climate strategies, showcasing efforts from diverse sectors worldwide. Join us to explore these impactful case studies and learn how you can contribute to a resilient and equitable future. Register now to be part of this essential dialogue.

I am thrilled by the energy and commitment shown at the inaugural Baku Climate Action Week! #BCAW As Azerbaijan prepares to host #COP29 in just 36 days, this week brought together brilliant minds and diverse voices to drive climate action across key sectors. From Just Transition partnerships to climate resilience, zero-emission shipping to AI & tech, greenhouse gas reduction to youth-led green innovation, we covered such a breadth of key issues! My heartfelt thanks to all the speakers, partners, and participants who contributed to a transformative week. Together, we are building a resilient, net-zero, equitable future for Baku, Azerbaijan, and the world. Let’s keep up the momentum towards #COP29! ???? #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture #WholeOfSociety Malini Mehra Orkhan Mustafayev Sevinj Sarukhanova PMP? Sumaya Gasimova Aretz Saba Fatdai Nathan Cooper Baku Climate Action Week COP29 Azerbaijan Leyla Hasanova

We're back from New York City and looking back at progress and problem-solving from real economy voices during Climate Week?? From over $100 billion annually from the world’s largest utilities companies for grid upgrades, to reports that net zero commitments among major companies have increased 20% in 18 months, and #RaceToZero partner members are leading the way on robustness, #CWNYC showed that businesses, investors, cities, regions and civil society continue to mobilize credible climate action. Nigar Arpadarai emphasised the importance of climate-proofing Small and Medium Enterprises, and the critical role of innovative climate solutions through her #COP29ImpactMakers campaign. The opportunity and imperative of continuing that action and investment were also the headline messages of two reports launched: ?? 'Scaling nature finance now: The opportunity for investors in Brazil and beyond’ ??? 'Whole-of-society rallies to support strong national climate plans’ Read more ?? https://lnkd.in/gVRt8QG4

Celebrating 15 years of impact, our 2024 #EquatorPrize Award Ceremony on 3 October will celebrate 11 innovative nature-based solutions spearheaded by Indigenous Peoples and local communities from around the ??. Under the theme of ‘Nature for Climate Action,’ the Award Ceremony will feature winners in the categories of Nature for Climate Mitigation, Nature for a Just Transition, and Nature for Climate Adaptation and Resilience. Learn more and join us at the #NatureForLife Hub: https://go.undp.org/ocA

Race to Resilience welcomes 3 new regions as part of RegionsAdapt to boost climate resilience in India, Senegal, and Brazil. Assam (India), Louga (Senegal), and Pernambuco (Brazil) - have joined the #RtR through RegionsAdapt, an initiative led by Regions4, committing to enhance climate resilience of millions of people worldwide. Discover how these areas are empowering local communities, from rural farming to coastal restoration, to protect their environments and create sustainable futures. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gBWqnfaM

Join leaders from finance, sustainability, and public policy at the #SustainableFinanceForum in Hamburg! On 9 October, we'll explore climate solutions projects and innovative finance strategies for the transition to a sustainable economy, playing a pivotal role in Europe's path towards meeting the #ParisAgreement goals ??? Date: Wednesday, 9 October 2024 ?? Time: 9 AM - 6 PM ?? Venue: Hamburg Chamber of Commerce ?? Organizers: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, High-Level Climate Champions, European Commission, DZ BANK AG, Handelskammer Hamburg, ICC Germany e.V. This event is part of the inaugural Hamburg Sustainability Conference. Secure your spot today and help shape a resilient future! ?? Learn more and register: sff.events.dzbank.de

As we reached the conclusion of #ClimateWeekNYC, our focus turned to the UN Biodiversity COP16 Colombia, which is starting in less than a month. On Friday I had the pleasure to co-host the event “From Dubai to Cali: Accelerating the Climate-Nature Agenda for People and Planet” along with Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, highlighting the continuity of our work across the two conferences. Last year, the UN Climate Change COP28 UAE marked a pivotal moment in recognizing the fundamental role of nature for delivering the goals of the #ParisAgreement, calling for greater alignment with the Kunming-Montreal #GlobalBiodiversityFramework and showing growing political momentum for synergies across the climate and nature agendas. As the world prepares for ambitious outcomes at COP16 in Cali, we must continue to provide a vision for the near-term that will help deliver on 2030 goals for climate, nature, and sustainable development. Thank you to everyone I met during an engaging and productive Climate Week, and to all those who followed the updates on social media. I look forward to seeing many of you in Colombia soon. Safe travels, everyone!

The Baku Initiative Climate Finance, Investment, and Trade Dialogue (BICFIT) is intended to ensure that ambitious, investable and implementable national climate plans boost sustainable development, and that they are supported by finance, investment and trade policy. Fantastic to have such dynamic, expert speakers at our final #ClimateWeekNYC event to offer practical suggestions on how to involve the private sector in this work. Thank you to all our wonderful speakers: Juan José Martinez Badillo, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Elmar Mammadov, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Tomoyuki Kimura, Thomas Beloe, Dr. Jean Baderschneider, Laure Mandrou, Gianpiero Nacci, Noam Unger and Matt Eldridge. And thanks too to our host the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. I am closing the week excited to channel all the innovation, ideas and learning from #ClimateWeekNYC towards Baku Climate Action Week and #COP29!

Strengthening international collaboration is vital to reduce emissions in the global economy’s largest emitting sectors to deliver on ambitious climate pledges, our new report with International Energy Agency (IEA) finds. Some sectors are making notable progress through international cooperation, but more widespread efforts are needed to achieve clean energy transitions and reach 2030 climate goals, according to the latest?Breakthrough Agenda report. Nigar Arpadarai said: "We urge governments and businesses to act on its recommendations and work together to adopt harmonised standards, boost market demand for green products, mobilise financing and technical assistance, and undertake coordinated research and development for accelerated implementation of climate solutions.” More here ?? https://lnkd.in/dUC2N_j7

It’s time to talk about funding for #IndigenousClimateAction. Indigenous Peoples steward one-quarter of Earth’s terrestrial surface, including more than one-third of the world’s intact forest landscapes, yet they represent just 5% of the global population and receive less than 1% of climate finance. One of my top priorities as a High-Level Champion is to champion direct finance mechanisms for indigenous-led projects. Back in 2021 at COP26, several governments committed to spend US $1.7 billion to support Indigenous Peoples. These commitments are set to expire by the end of 2025 at #COP30Brazil. At last year’s COP28 UAE, key stakeholders agreed to deliver a revised pledge by COP30 to facilitate direct finance to indigenous communities. Today at #ClimateWeekNYC, I co-hosted “Indigenous Peoples Direct Access to Finance from COP28 to COP30” with Nigar Arpadarai, my fellow High-Level Climate Champions for COP29 Azerbaijan. We engaged with forest groups, Indigenous peoples' organizations, multilateral development funds, and businesses to review progress and plan next steps towards COP30. Special thanks to Minister Sonia Guajajara of Brazil, the incoming COP30 Brazil Presidency, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim of the #IIPFCC, and The Christensen Fund for their partnership in hosting this pivotal event at the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the UN - New York. Billions of dollars have been promised to support Indigenous communities, but funding is not flowing fast or far enough. It's encouraging, however, to see a growing coalition of organizations committed to enhancing financial flows to Indigenous Peoples. Let’s remain committed to advancing this critical cause together.