The COP29 Presidency has published the final texts of nine Declarations and Pledges as part of its Action Agenda for the upcoming UN climate summit in Baku this November.
These documents provide pathways for all global actors to come together and commit to enhanced ambition across key climate priorities.
The COP29 Presidency’s Action Agenda, first outlined in an open letter to Parties and Constituencies in September, is a comprehensive set of initiatives designed to complement the formal UNFCCC negotiation process. While not part of the official negotiations, these Declarations and Pledges aim to catalyse action and ambition across all sectors of society.
With the final texts now published, government and non-government stakeholders have the opportunity to endorse these documents, which will be formally launched at the COP29 climate summit in November.
The texts, finalised following a period of public consultation, include:
- COP29 Truce Appeal
- COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge
- COP29 Green Energy Zones and Corridors Pledge
- COP29 Hydrogen Declaration
- COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action
- COP29 Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste
- COP29 Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) Declaration to Resilient and Healthy Cities
- COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Action in Tourism
- COP29 Declaration on Water for Climate Action
The COP29 Truce Appeal has already gained significant traction, with support from 127 countries and nearly 1,100 non-state actors. It calls for a pause in conflicts during the COP29 period to reduce emissions from military activities and promote global peace.
In line with the COP29 Presidency’s two-pillar plan for the year, the Declarations and Pledges aim to enhance ambition across all climate pillars. They present opportunities for governments to incorporate sectoral targets into national climate plans and for stakeholders to agree on principles to strengthen collective climate efforts.
Alongside the Declarations and Pledges, the COP29 Presidency will release a programme of Presidency-hosted events for the UN climate summit. These sessions will bring together relevant stakeholders for focused discussions on thematic items and serve as platforms to launch the various declarations.
COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev said: “These Declarations and Pledges are vital tools to drive progress on climate action. They send strong market signals, help direct financial flows, and foster a sense of shared responsibility. I call on all parties and non-state actors to endorse these documents and help build momentum ahead of COP29. While signing these pledges alone will not deliver the changes we need, they play a significant role in supporting the COP29 Presidency’s vision to enhance ambition and enable action.”
He added, “The final texts reflect valuable input from a wide range of stakeholders, demonstrating the power of inclusive and transparent processes in addressing the climate crisis. We thank our partners for their collaboration throughout this process. We are particularly encouraged by the early support for the COP Truce Appeal, which highlights the interconnectedness of climate action and global peace.”
These initiatives are designed to complement, not replace, the critical work of the formal UNFCCC negotiations. They provide additional avenues for commitment and action, particularly for non-state actors who play a crucial role in the global response to climate change.
The Presidency encourages all stakeholders to review the final texts and consider endorsing these important climate initiatives, which collectively aim to accelerate progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The full text of the newly released declarations can be found on the COP29 website here.
