Touted as the ‘Climate Finance COP’, discussions in Azerbaijan are expected to lead to new funding pathways and the further identification of gaps in international financial structures. To understand what is actually on the agenda in Baku and how will it impact Pacific SIDS, we started Day 3 with a virtual session and a great lineup of experts.
Kate Brown (Executive Director, Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)), Saud Minam (Senior Private Sector Specialist for the Pacific, Asian Development Bank), Kunal Singh (Regional Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) Advisor, Pacific Community-SPC), Katerina Syngellakis (Regional Director Pacific, GGGI) and Priyanka Darshani (Climate Finance Advisor, OXFAM Pacific) discussed COP29 decisions on the Pacific and the solutions already being developed and implemented across the region.
Yesterday was the last day of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, and the Island Innovation team started the day attending the Leaders’ Summit of the Small Island Developing States on Climate Change, a “major gathering of leaders from the membership of the Alliance of Small Island States” as stated by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
During the plenary, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, referenced his country’s Baku Initiative Group, which has had a noticeable presence at COP29, accusing France and the Netherlands of “brutally” suppressing climate change concerns in their overseas territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific. French Ecological Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher told the French Senate that the remarks were “unjustifiable” and accused Azerbaijan of “instrumentalizing the fight against climate change for its undignified personal agenda.”
Afterward, the Dutch Government, through its Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released a statement refuting the speech saying “The Kingdom of the Netherlands categorically rejects the unfounded views about repression as expressed by the president of Azerbaijan during the COP29. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four autonomous and legally equal countries under the Charter of the Kingdom: Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands, which includes the special municipalities Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. This is a result of a series of referenda and consultations on the islands. Democratic elections are held periodically on every of the six islands. (…)”
Day 3 was also a powerful day of youth-led climate solutions and insights:
As coastal communities face heightened threats from climate change, innovative solutions led by youth are critical to fostering resilience, especially in the Caribbean—one of the most vulnerable regions to climate impacts. Yesterday’s side event spotlighted the powerful voices and strategies emerging from the Caribbean Climate Leaders Justice Academy, featuring inspiring youth leaders and advocates who have been at the forefront of climate action across their islands. It was an interactive workshop during which they had a brainstorming session with the audience on solutions for coastal resilience.
The Singapore Pavilion also invited one of our CCJLA, Noelle Young, in their session on Bridging the Biodiversity. She was accompanied by speakers Carol Yuen (Environmental Law Researcher and Singapore’s COP29 Youth delegate), Thando Lukuko (National Node Coordinator, South African Climate Action Network) and Sherine El Wattar (Science Network Officer, IPCC Working Group II). They explored solutions rooted in resource conservation, sustainable economies, and global cooperation.
Exclusive Offer for COP29
In-person event: The Global Sustainable Islands Summit has been officially announced! Island Innovation and the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis will be co-hosting the 2nd edition of the in-person event in May 2025 in Saint Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean).
We will be gathering renowned professionals, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to address pressing challenges confronting island communities, focusing on Water Sustainability & Energy Nexus, Agricultural Resilience & Climate Adaptation and Climate-Health Interactions & Geothermal Energy.
Use the exclusive code “COP29” to get a discount (-$75) on your extra-early bird ticket, valid until the end of COP29 (November 30th)!
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News And Key Insights
Today's island events at COP29
The Island Voices @ COP29 is also a platform to share information about island-related events during COP29. Here are some of today’s island related events:
Long-term investment for safeguarding Kiribati’s Coastlines in the Face of Climate Change
14 November, 10:00-10:50 AM (Baku)
Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion
Org: Kiribati
Powering Resilience: Charting the course for the energy transition in the Mediterranean
14 November, 10:30-11:45 AM (Baku)
Location: Global Renewables Hub
Org: European Commission, IRENA
14 November, 11:30 AM-1:50PM (Baku)
Location: UNFCCC Pavilion
Org: IRENA, UNFCCC
14 November, 4:00-5:30 PM (Baku)
Location: Commonwealth Pavilion
Org: Commonwealth Secretariat Blue Charter, ORRAA, Trinidad & Tobago, Rare, Conservation International
If you have relevant COP29 updates or announcements, please contact us via [email protected], and we’ll be happy to share them (keeping in mind we have to limit promotional content).
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