When We Act Together, We Grow Together: MedWaves at COP29

Friday 08 November 2024

Guided by this motto, MedWaves, the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre for SCP, is set to actively participate in COP29, aligning with the Mediterranean Coalition led by the Union for the Mediterranean and the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit. 

For the third consecutive year, MedWaves will host a pavilion in the Blue Zone: the Mediterranean Pavilion. This collaborative space welcomes participants from diverse sectors—public and private organizations, academia, policymakers, civil society, finance, and business—united by a commitment to tackling the climate crisis across the Mediterranean. 

The 29th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024. COP29 will continue the critical dialogue started at COP28 in Dubai, building on the urgent call to scale up climate action in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. 

At COP28, the “global stocktake” revealed gaps in the global response to climate change, with the final declaration pointing to the need for greater effort from developed nations. The “UAE Consensus” underscored the importance of phasing out fossil fuels and highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to fund this transition fairly and effectively. 

COP29, already widely known as the “Finance COP,” will focus on establishing the financial mechanisms essential to bring the UAE Consensus into action. Central to the discussions will be the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), a financial commitment first envisioned in the Paris Agreement of 2015, whereby developed countries are expected to provide resources to assist “developing” nations. The ongoing negotiations surrounding the NCQG will emphasize not only the scale of funding needed but also the speed at which funds should be mobilized to support immediate, transformative, and just climate action. 

Meet MedWaves at COP29 

Located in the Blue Zone, the Mediterranean Pavilion, supported by a coalition of 11 regional organizations, will host a dynamic 10-day program to amplify the Mediterranean’s united voice on climate action, highlighting practical solutions and catalyzing impactful change. 

MedWaves brings a unique focus to the climate conversation, emphasizing Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) as a powerful pathway to addressing the climate crisis. By advocating for transformative shifts in how we produce and consume goods, MedWaves advocates for an urgent transition to a sustainable, equitable system that prioritizes social and environmental justice. 

A key pillar of MedWaves’ approach is the Circular Economy, a strategy that addresses climate challenges by eliminating waste, keeping products and materials in circulation, and restoring natural systems. As noted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, transitioning to a Circular Economy can address up to 45% of global emissions not directly related to energy consumption. 

MedWaves is committed to promoting a Just Transition to a Circular Economy as a climate solution that not only mitigates emissions but also fosters resilience and equity. 

Join Us in Shaping a Sustainable Future 

Do you want to know more? Visit the Mediterranean Pavilion at COP29 to connect with MedWaves and other leading voices in the region. Together, we will build momentum for climate solutions rooted in social equity and environmental sustainability. Let’s act together, because when we act together, we grow together! 

Find us at: 

Side-event #1: Call for green transition projects: spotlight on Interreg NEXT MED financing opportunities (Hosted by INTERREG NEXT MED) 

Side-event #2: Building Resilience Together: A Dialogue on Adapting to Mediterranean Climate Impacts (Hosted by the Catalan Government, MedWaves and the MCAP) 

Side-event #3: Financing the regional and transboundary cooperation in addressing climate change in the region (Hosted by the Black Sea Commission)

  • Where: Azerbaijan Republic Pavilion
  • When: 14th of November, 17:30-18:30 Baku local time, 14:30-15:30 CET 

Side-event #4: Localizing Climate Action through Sustainable Innovation Economies: Success stories from the Mediterranean (Hosted by MedWaves, INTERREG NEXT MED and BETA Tech Centre)

Side-event #5: The Just Transition Pathway: are we on track to achieve planetary wellbeing and climate resilience? (Hosted by MedWaves and the Hot or Cool Institute) 

Media & Communications Contact:  

Nuria Manchado Puchol, Corporate Communication Officer, nuriamanchado@gencat.cat 

Contacts at COP29: 

Marta Junquera Tordesillas, Policy Team Leader, mjunquerat@gencat.cat 

Matias Ibañez Sales, Coordinator of Operations, matiasibanez@gencat.cat