Briefing Series: What Congress Needs to Know About COP29

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about what Congress can expect during the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29). From the opening World Climate Action Summit to the intense negotiations of the conference’s final days, thousands of events will take place over the course of the two-week U.N. session. Whether traveling to Baku or observing COP29 from D.C., this briefing will guide policymakers on how to engage effectively.

Panelists previewed key issues on the negotiating agenda, from setting the new global climate finance goal and determining metrics for climate adaptation to updating national climate goals. The briefing also unpacked the complex process of international climate negotiations, reviewed possible policy outcomes, and explored pathways for subsequent Congressional action.

Key Takeaways

• The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference is composed of three meetings, which all take place under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The 29th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP29) to the convention, the 19th meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP19), and the 6th meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA6). These meetings are collectively referred to as COP29.
• The new collective quantified goal on climate finance (NCQG) is a key issue negotiators need to tackle at COP29. The Paris Agreement states that the new climate finance goal should be established before 2025. The goal would set a new international financial target for supporting developing countries in their climate actions.
• COP29 provides an opportunity for organizations and subnational governments to share announcements promoting transparency and accountability in alignment with global climate efforts.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing discussing how nations can collaborate to monitor and mitigate methane emissions to improve air quality and meet emission reduction targets. Methane accounts for 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution and has 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, making it a key lever in addressing the climate crisis. 

Ahead of the United Nations annual conference on climate change (COP29), this briefing covered policies nations are implementing to effectively reduce their domestic methane emissions in the energy, agriculture, and waste sectors. Panelists discussed the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge, which 155 countries have signed, and highlighted the role of technology in improving methane monitoring, compliance, and reduction.

Key Takeaways

• A significant portion of global warming is due to methane emissions from human activities. Because methane has a short atmospheric lifetime, reducing these emissions can quickly lower their warming impact, making it one of the fastest ways to combat the climate crisis.
• Approximately 40% of methane emissions come from fossil fuel extraction, with food production and waste accounting for 60%. In the United States, studies show that 14% of methane emissions are linked to food waste due to production losses and decomposition in landfills.
• The launch of the Global Methane Pledge at the 2021 UN climate summit (COP26) marked a pivotal moment, placing methane at the forefront of political action. Since then, millions of dollars have been invested to support methane mitigation efforts.
• Now, there is a diverse ecosystem of technologies and tools, including dedicated satellites, that can detect, pinpoint, and quantify methane emissions.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the role of United States-China climate engagement in shaping the progress and outcomes of international climate governance. From critical mineral supply chains to clean energy and transportation technology, dynamics between the two countries are complex and sometimes fraught. This briefing explored how the countries’ relations across broader climate and environmental issues have influenced and will continue to influence the annual U.N. climate change negotiations.

In 2023, the United States and China produced the Sunnylands Statement ahead of the U.N. climate change negotiations (COP28), following a tradition of publishing similar joint positions in prior years. The statement covered topics related to the energy transition, forest conservation, and non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, including methane. It also kicked off a working group focused on “climate action in the 2020s,” which started meeting in the first half of 2024.  

During the briefing, panelists explained how these bilateral interactions play into the international negotiations on climate change, outlined what to expect during COP29 and its lead up, and discussed the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Key Takeaways

• The U.S.-China relationship is complex because the two countries are connected economically and often compete on issues such as critical mineral supply chains and clean energy technology. However, to meet shared greenhouse gas emission targets, both countries will need to cooperate.
• It is possible that China could cut its carbon dioxide emissions by at least 30% below 2023 levels by 2035 and its non-carbon dioxide emissions by 35%.
• Recent engagements, including the 2021 U.S.-China Glasgow Climate Declaration and the 2023 Sunnylands Statement, have focused on methane emission reductions, reducing hydrofluorocarbon emissions, and agriculture and food production.
• The United States and China have agreed that their respective 2035 climate targets, articulated in their nationally determined contributions, will be economy-wide, include all greenhouse gases, and align with the 1.5°C (2.7°F) target as agreed by all countries at COP28.