By Maanya Rajesh and Margot Francini
Maanya Rajesh (left) is a junior business administration and data science major from Carmel, Indiana. Margot Francini (right) is a senior environmental health sciences and public policy major from Pittsboro, North Carolina.
Editor’s Note: Margot Francini and Maanya Rajesh were selected to represent UNC Chapel Hill as delegates at COP29, an opportunity made possible by UNC’s “observer” status as a Research and Independent NGO within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the leadership of Angel Hsu, director of the Data-Driven Envirolab.
Overview of COP 29
This year’s United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP29) convened in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing together global stakeholders to negotiate climate policies and advance collective action to combat the growing threat of climate change. Dubbed as the “finance cop”, the primary focus of COP29 was to establish the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance by 2025. Set to replace the $100 billion annual climate finance pledge under the Paris Agreement, the NCQG discussions focused on determining what the new quantum target should be, which countries should contribute, and how should the funding be delivered. Additionally, rules were finalized under Article 6 of the 2015 Paris Agreement to ensure integrity and transparency in global carbon markets, rounding out key outcomes from the previous year’s negotiations at COP28.
Entrance to COP 29
Outside of finance, parties met to discuss a myriad of other pressing issues related to climate change, including reducing global methane emissions, accelerating green energy transitions, incorporating nature-based solutions into the Paris Agreement, and pushing for parties to publish transparent Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)–countries’ reports on their emissions reduction targets, how they are being achieved, and how they meet the goals of the Paris Agreement–by the February 2025 deadline. Agreements on transparent climate reporting and climate adaptation funding frameworks were also reached.
Margot’s Week 1 Reflections
Throughout my time spent at the first week of COP29, I was able to witness parties’ initial interventions in negotiations, learn how reports like those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change interact with policymakers, hear stories of climate resilience from Amazonian Indigenous leaders, and attend events highlighting aspects of global collaboration on climate solutions that I otherwise would not have been able to explore solely through my course load at UNC. The opportunities for engagement at COP29 were nearly overwhelming, but I gained an unparalleled experience being at the center of the global climate conversation.
Early in the week, I was able to sit in on the beginnings of multilateral negotiations surrounding the NCQG. In their opening interventions, countries from the Global South shared stories of climate disaster and resultant debt tacked onto their already strained economies. Island nations and “Least Developed Countries”, specifically, advocated for more assistance from “developed” countries with historical emissions, else they would not be able to meet emissions reduction goals. In turn, countries from the Global North avoided questions of liability regarding historical emissions, and instead advocated for a climate finance framework much closer to the status quo. Witnessing these negotiations firsthand was incredibly eye-opening, as I realized the nuanced relationships between climate change, economic development, and historical issues such as imperialism, and how they play out in negotiations at the highest level of international climate policy.
Overall, COP29 was really a place to meet new people, learn from new role models, and broaden my understanding of what constitutes climate action at the global scale. Outside of negotiations, I met other college students (even from North Carolina), learning how they are pursuing high-impact careers in the environmental sector. Moving forward, I aim to explore the space between climate research and multilateral policy further, learning how major reports, such as those from the IPCC, can be effectively operationalized in the policy spaces they target. I am excited for the road to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where I hope to put my Portuguese minor to good use!
Maanya’s Week 2 Reflections
I had the incredible opportunity of representing UNC Chapel Hill in the second week of COP29. Immersed in discussions that highlighted the intersection of climate resilience, economic development, and social justice, I witnessed firsthand the complexity of addressing global climate challenges—and how important collaborative solutions will be in the years ahead.
The New Collective Quantified Goal negotiations took center stage during my time at COP29, unfolding as a race against time as parties scrambled to reach consensus before the conference’s official end. A key discussion I observed was the debate over what qualifies as “climate finance” and how contributions should be structured. Delegates from the Global South and Small Island Developing States stressed the urgency of grants and debt relief to address the economic strain caused by climate disasters. In contrast, wealthier nations from the Global North advocated for a broader definition that included private-sector investments and concessional loans.
While developed nations ultimately pledged $300 billion annually by 2035 to support sustainable development in developing countries—a figure that incorporates both public funding and private investments, this commitment falls significantly short of the $1.3 trillion experts estimate is required to close the global climate finance gap, highlighting the ongoing challenges of bridging diverse economic realities and addressing climate vulnerabilities.
Outside the negotiation halls, I found hope and inspiration. Non-governmental organizations and businesses of all sizes showcased innovative climate solutions, from new financing mechanisms to alternative energy sources and cross-sector partnerships. In meeting leaders such as Unilever’s Global Head of Sustainability and Tata Motors’ Chief Sustainability Officer, I learned how the private sector is uniquely positioned to drive climate impact at scale—and the responsibility it holds to do so. Equally inspiring were the youth advocates I connected with, many of whom represented communities already facing the harshest effects of climate change.
Their research and lived experiences truly conveyed the urgency of climate action with conviction and clarity, deepening my understanding of the importance of centering marginalized voices in climate policy. Leaving COP29, I feel inspired by the resilience and determination I witnessed across every corner of the conference and carry a renewed sense of urgency to play a part in translating global commitments into tangible action for the communities that need it most.