Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung@COP29

MARJAM MAYER
Energy And Climate Justice in Africa

Which role does COP29 play in your region?
COP29 provides an important the opportunity to further develop our work on climate justice in sub-Saharan Africa. The exchange with African civil society and trade unions makes it possible to incorporate their perspectives and solutions directly into our projects and to represent their concerns more strongly in global climate policy.

Which topics are particularly important for COP29?
Our focus is on “Adaptation Finance” and “Loss and Damage” meaning financial support for climate adaptation and addressing losses and damages. For many African countries, it is essential that sufficient funds are pledged and that fair access to them is ensured.

Which expectations do you have for your region regarding COP29?
We expect that the countries of the Global North will fulfill their responsibility and make reliable funding commitments. The people in sub-Saharan Africa are already experiencing the climate crisis as a daily reality.

FRANZISKA SCHMIDTKE
Energy And Climate Justice In Asia

Which role does COP29 play in your region?

For the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, COP29 represents a valuable opportunity to bring our work on a just energy transition in Asia to the global stage. It allows us to spotlight regional challenges and highlight the approaches and concerns of our partners. Our experts actively contribute to global debates, bringing progressive perspectives from Southeast Asia..

Which topics are particularly important for COP29?

Key issues from our perspective include a just transition in energy and access to climate finance. It’s essential that the Asian region’s response to climate change is not only sustainable but also socially just.

Which expectations do you have for your region regarding COP29?

Therefore, our expectations for COP29 are clear: we need concrete, actionable commitments that strengthen regional initiatives and support the climate ambitions of Asian countries, without compromising social justice.

CLAUDIA DETSCH
Energy And Climate Justice In Europe & Northamerica

Which role does COP29 play in your region?

Decarbonization, competitiveness and security - the EU is pursuing these three goals in both domestic and foreign policy. This requires strategic partnerships worldwide and consistent “green” diplomacy. The COP will be a litmus test of how well it is already positioned.

Which topics are particularly important for COP29?

The COP29 Presidency has proposed three key global initiatives that will play a role in our region: Hydrogen Action; Green Energy Zones; Energy Storage and Grids. In addition, the EU is pushing for greater participation of economically strong countries such as China and the Gulf States in the central topic of this year's COP, global financing for climate action.

Which expectations do you have for your region regarding COP29?

An agreement on financing would be important, but is rather unlikely. At the same time, the focus in Brussels is currently very much on issues such as strengthening strategic industries and safeguarding jobs. Brussels is also still in the process of confirming the candidates for the top positions in the new EU Commission. At the same time, Trump's US election victory will play an important role for the future climate agenda and will certainly also influence the EU's appearance at the COP.

ASTRID BECKER
Energy And Climate Justice In Latin America & the Caribbean

Which role does COP29 play in your region?

There is little interest in COP29 among our project partners in Latin America; the focus is already on COP30 in Brazil. We are therefore only sending a small delegation of long-standing partners from civil society, parliament and trade unions to Baku, who will report on the progress and results and be available to our project partners as contacts.

Which topics are particularly important for COP29?

From our point of view, COP29 will focus on key issues: the socially oriented energy transition, just transition and the role of local groups, especially indigenous groups. In view of the demand for raw materials such as lithium and copper for the energy transition in the Global North, environmental and human rights movements are concerned about the expansion of environmentally harmful mining.

Which expectations do you have for your region regarding COP29?

Expectations for COP29 are low. As in previous years, the conference is being held in a country that relies on fossil fuels and restricts the scope for civil society. Climate conferences are important for the participation and networking of NGOs. It is eagerly awaited how Brazil will position itself within the troika as the next venue for COP in 2025.

SARAH NOOREN
Energy And Climate Justice in Middle East & North Africa

Which role does COP29 play in your region?

COP29 is a crucial platform for us to highlight regional issues. Especially in the Middle East and North Africa, where water scarcity and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, we must ensure these challenges are heard. On a regional level, we are working to place social justice at the core of climate policy - there will be no sustainable solution without fair transitions.

Which topics are particularly important for COP29?

Climate justice is our top priority. The countries that have contributed the least to climate change are suffering the most. While we advocate for the expansion of renewable energy, it is equally important to address the social impacts of the climate crisis. There needs to be more support for adapting to the consequences of climate change.

Which expectations do you have for your region regarding COP29?

We expect clear commitments for funding climate adaptation measures in our region. It cannot just be about promises but concrete actions. Additionally, we hope that the voices of the most affected regions will carry more weight.