COP29
11 – 22 November 2024
COP29 Takeaways
The Montreal Protocol at COP29
The Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat participated in various activities between 11 and 19 November 2024 at COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
COP29 brought together about 67,000 participants from almost 200 countries including world leaders, climate experts, government agencies, UN entities, industry, non-government organisations, as well as youth, climate and environment stakeholders to discuss global climate commitments, New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance to support developing countries, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on carbon markets, Enhanced Transparency Framework, energy transition from fossil fuels, mitigation work programme, just transition work programme and operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund among others.
The issues addressed by the Montreal Protocol are inherently connected to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and global environmental governance. Understanding the successes and challenges of the Montreal Protocol by others can inform strategies and decisions within the UNFCCC framework, highlighting the importance of integrated approaches, both at the national and international levels, to global environmental issues and indivisibility of ozone layer protection and climate change mitigation. It is therefore important to continue highlighting implementation experience and potential contribution of the Montreal Protocol to climate action as well as stay abreast of developments and discussions on aspects of relevance to the Ozone Treaties.
The Secretariat hosted an official side event of COP29 on energy efficiency and another side event on refrigerant banks at the UNEP Buildings and Cooling Pavillion. In addition, the Secretariat participated in the side-events of partners such as the Government of Japan, the United States of America, CCAC, UNIDO and Center for Global Education, as well as co-organize the high-level Ministerial event on the Global Cooling Pledge with UNEP's Cool Coalition. The Secretariat also participated in some plenary sessions and various meetings of relevance as observers from the Montreal Protocol’s Ozone Secretariat; and hold bilateral meetings with a number of countries to promote the ratification of the Kigali Amendment. More information on Secretariat participation available here.
Key outcomes of COP29 and their relevance to the work of Ozone Secretariat
A central outcome of COP29 was the commitment by developed nations to increase public climate finance to developing countries up to $300 billion annually by 2035. Increased climate finance could support developing countries to implement climate actions such as energy enhancement and managing refrigerants at the end of life among others, that are also issues addressed under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.
The rules for international carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement were finalized. This puts in operation frameworks for inter-country trading of carbon credits known as ITMO (Article 6.2) and a centralized international carbon market (Article 6.4), known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM). Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), refrigerants with high global-warming-potential (GWP) and part of the seven groups of greenhouse gases (GHGs) under the Paris Agreement, are widely traded under the current systems. The formalized rules will help to provide a standardized system for issuing carbon credits and help enhance transparency and environmental integrity. This addresses some of the many issues raised during a workshop on life-cycle refrigerant management (LRM) convened by the Secretariat during its COP13/MOP36 in October where carbon markets were considered as a potential source of finance.
The outcomes of the first Global Stocktaking (GST) and Mitigation Work Programme presented and agreed at COP28 emphasized the need for increased ambition and implementation in mitigation efforts. It also highlighted the importance of aligning national policies with the 1.5°C temperature goal and acknowledged the interconnectedness of various international efforts in addressing climate change. GST has also provided guidance for enhancing countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs). At the time of COP29, countries like Brazil, UK, and UAE submitted their NDC 3.0 which included F-gases, promotion of energy efficiency, with references to cooling and Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.
COP29 saw very active engagement of major groups and other stakeholders such as children and youth. Mainstreaming climate learning into national curricula and promoting early learning and age-appropriate discussions on climate with children were just some of the areas considered at various side events and panel discussions. Investing in educating, informing, involving and empowering children and youth to become engaged in discussions on global environmental issues is widely recognised as a critical component of nurturing environmental and climate protection. A belief long held by the Secretariat which prompted the development of the Reset Earth and Apollo’s Edition campaign materials available on the Secretariat’s education platform.Also of interest were discussions on non-CO2 greenhouse gases, so called climate super pollutants, such as N2O, methane and HFCs and their role in climate change. Addressing their emissions was seen as critical and important near-term opportunity for slowing the rate of global warming in complement with CO2 emissions reduction. The discussions focused on technology to detect and mitigate non-CO2 emissions including through atmospheric monitoring and satellite technologies, as well as integrated policy approaches to managing their emissions across various sectors. The Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment (N2O) developed by UNEP, CCAC, FAO and INMS with input from the Secretariat was officially launched at COP29. The Assessment highlighted that N2O is currently the most significant ozone depleting substance with the largest ozone depleting potential-weighted emission. Another takeaway from COP29 with reference to the Montreal Protocol was progress on Enhanced Transparency Reporting. This has been fully operationalized to ensure standardized and comprehensive reporting of parties’ climate actions and progress towards the NDC commitments with several countries submitted their biennial transparency reports (BTRs). Experiences of the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) first round can provide lessons on institutional strengthening, and global progress towards shared objectives on climate mitigation and national implementation of integrated policy approaches.
Broadening the cooperation among the multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) such as the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), Minamata Convention, Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and the Montreal Protocol and recognition of their collective and individual contributions to other fora is growing. An event exploring the insights from the recent Bern III Conference on cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework (GBF) focused on the issue of synergies among MEAs.
As the frequency of extreme weather events increase, so do the discussions around alternatives options to reduce climate warming such as solar radiation modification. A number of side events during COP29 explored options through open and inclusive dialogue on critical governance and research issues surrounding SRM.Programme of Events
11 November
12 November
Event: Launch event for the Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment
Time: 14:15 – 15:00
Organiser(s): United States and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition
Location: United States Pavilion (F2)
Event Description: Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas and the most abundantly emitted ozone depleting substance and included as one of six greenhouse gases managed within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. National and global climate mitigation efforts tend to focus on carbon dioxide and methane, reflected in new national commitments and the Global Methane Pledge to reduce emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. And yet, mitigation efforts that exclude nitrous oxide could make it much harder, if not impossible, to meet a range of climate, ozone and sustainable development objectives.
This assessment highlights the threats of rising nitrous oxide emissions and the multiple benefits from ambitious action.
The launch will be livestreamed on U.S. Center YouTube page and the assessment available to download here.
13 November
Event: Effective Ways to Boost Mitigation Ambition in NDC - Fluorocarbons Life Cycle Management in Cooling Sector
Time: 14:15 – 15:00
Organiser(s): Co-organised by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, the Asian Development Bank, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan
Location: Japan Pavilion (C5)
Event Description: Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) are potent climate forcers. Accelerating reduction of SLCP emissions, such as HFCs is a way to materialize immediate effect of mitigation. The international society becomes aware of the importance of non-CO2 reduction through 1st Global Stocktake at COP28.
On the other hand, many developing countries have not yet sufficiently included HFC reductions in their NDC. Lifecycle refrigerant management, i.e., recovery, recycling, reclamation, and destruction of refrigerants, has not been implemented, while cooling demand is rapidly growing, and thus such lifecycle management should have significant mitigation potential.
Japan, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (ADB) and other partners, launched the Initiative on Fluorocarbons Life Cyle Management (IFL) at COP25 in Madrid, Spain, to support mitigation efforts of HFCs, etc. Based on the experiences in Japan, there are some progresses such as developing legislation and institutional framework, inventory, as well as introduction of infrastructure using the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).
At this event, the experts from developing countries and international agencies will share such experiences and will discuss how to maximize opportunity to raise mitigation ambition in NDC. Also, the event includes technical and practical aspects of MRV methodologies that will ensure high integrity of GHG accounting in the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and carbon market mechanism.
Livestreaming accessible here.
Event: Working Meeting of Global Cooling Pledge (GCP) Focal Points and Members
Time: 18:00 – 20:00
Organiser(s): COP28 Presidency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the UNEP-led Cool Coalition
Location: Special Event Room 1
Event Description: This interactive meeting, designed to engage all the focal points of the Global Cooling Pledge and the extensive membership of UNEP-Cool Coalition, will be held in-person. This GCP working meeting is dedicated to discussing the implementation of the Pledge amongst the Focal Points and the membership of UNEP-Cool Coalition. The discussions will focus on navigating the priorities, needs, and barriers to enable the Pledge’s signatories to progress in their implementation of the Global Cooling Pledge by COP30.
Dedicated to discussing the implementation of the Pledge amongst the Focal Points and the membership of UNEP-Cool Coalition, this session will focus on navigating the priorities, needs, barriers and partnerships to enable the Pledge’s signatories to progress in their implementation of the Global Cooling Pledge by COP30.
14 November
Event: Cooling the Heat: Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Refrigeration and Cooling Sector
Time: 11:30 – 13:00
Organiser(s): Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat with UNDP and Multilateral Fun Secretariat
Location: Side Event Room 5
Event Description: Limiting hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, one of the most successful environmental treaties, may avoid up to 0.5°C global warming. Improving energy efficiency in cooling could double this benefit. The event will focus on experiences, challenges, and solutions for sustainable cooling.
The session will emphasise the potential for achieving near-zero emissions in the cooling sector by 2050 through the adoption of low- and zero-GWP refrigerants, improved energy efficiency, and reduced building cooling loads. It will address barriers to accessibility, coordination, and financing for energy-efficient equipment and will discuss the role of integrated policy approaches and broad stakeholder engagement to mobilise finance, advancing progress under both the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
15 November
16 November
Event: Managing Refrigerants Banks for Cooler Future
Time: 16:00 – 17:30
Organiser(s): Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat
Location: Buildings and Cooling Pavilion (G10)
Event Description: The Montreal Protocol has been pivotal in phasing out ozone depleting substances (ODS), used as refrigerants in various applications like air-conditioning, refrigeration, foams, and fire extinguishers. However, the existing ODS banks - defined as the total amounts of these substances still contained in equipment, and products not yet released into the atmosphere - represent a significant, hidden climate challenge, because many of ODS are also potent greenhouse gases.
This event will explore the magnitude of this threat and discuss effective strategies for managing and destroying the banks to prevent their leakage into the atmosphere. Solutions include life-cycle refrigerant management through leak prevention, recovery and reuse and safe destruction, which requires an effective policy framework and innovative financing.
The policy framework can be based on the extended producer responsibility scheme used for waste management and circular economy approaches. Managing banks can generate valuable carbon offset credits under the Paris Agreement through national and voluntary carbon trading mechanisms. Life-cycle refrigerant management can offer an innovative business models for industries and companies, attuned with the policy developments and market demand.
17 November
18 November
19 November
20 November
21 November
Location
Around COP29
