On September 26, 2024, during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the COP29 Presidency spearheaded a high-level discussion at UN Headquarters titled “The Road to COP29: A Multilateral Approach to Climate Adaptation”. This event brought together senior government officials, representatives from financial institutions, climate funds, and climate experts. The dialogue focused on enhancing global resilience to climate change, particularly in light of recent climate disasters that underscored the urgent need to boost funding for adaptation efforts.

The discussions addressed the advancement of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), with a special focus on overcoming the financial barriers encountered by developing nations. Participants underscored the vital importance of multilateral cooperation in tackling these challenges and strengthening adaptation measures on a global scale.

The event, inaugurated by COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev, alongside the chairs of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Bodies, featured an impressive lineup of speakers. Among them were climate ministers from Ireland, Tuvalu, the Maldives, and Gambia, as well as Canada’s Climate Change Ambassador.

Prominent figures, including the Head of the Adaptation Fund, the Director of Climate Change at the Asian Development Bank, the Director of the Adaptation Programme at the UNFCCC, and the COP29 Deputy Lead Negotiator, Samir Bejanov, also took part. The discussions centred on identifying solutions to accelerate climate adaptation efforts on a global scale.

At the event, participants emphasised bolstering international cooperation and increasing financial support for adaptation efforts in vulnerable regions, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Participants also underscored the necessity of dismantling barriers and implementing innovative solutions to ensure these regions receive the adequate support needed for their adaptation strategies.

Speaking at the event, COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev highlighted the urgent need to increase adaptation finance and called on nations to show solidarity in tackling climate challenges.

In his closing remarks, COP29 Lead Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev emphasised the significance of global cooperation and transformative actions to safeguard countries vulnerable to climate change. He asserted that COP29 will be instrumental in reinforcing global climate adaptation for a sustainable future.