It was a month ago now… But the memories are still so much alive!
It’s been quite a challenge to complete this final step of the journey, but here we are, finally coming to you with a summary of the Open Dialogues team’s engagement at this year’s UN Climate Summit - the COP29 in Azerbaijan.
What did we do at COP29?
You have certainly already heard about our side event on 19 December, but we are especially proud of it this year! With over 30 people watching from the audience and with a diverse set of speakers representing our brilliant #ODCC2024 national teams and partners, we managed to have some true dialogue - not only among the panellists, but across the entire room! The conversation was such a fresh, empowering, and hopeful experience among all the uncertainties of a high-level political event, and a safe space for many people like us, who came to share their honest opinions and true stories of climate action at all levels! The programme ended up well balanced, logistically successful, and inspiring to many of our participants.
As we take with us the slides, the audience written and spoken contributions, and the recording of the side event, we will make sure to always keep them in our minds while preparing the next edition of the Open Dialogues on Climate Change, and any other projects we will undertake.
Throughout the 2 weeks, we also participated in the COP negotiations process, focusing on topics such as just transition, climate education and participation, and climate finance. We supported YOUNGO, the UNFCCC Youth Constituency, as well as other civil society groups in their political advocacy efforts. We made our voices heard by speaking during several side events across the different COP rooms and pavilions. We participated in an exclusive meeting of young leaders with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. We networked, we formed relationships and partnerships, we created ideas, and we shared stories. We kept the spirits high and we remained in action, against all odds. Many many thanks to everyone who was part of this journey!
It goes without saying that this COP was one of many lost hopes, as we saw so many important decisions failing to be delivered in the final days, with the Just Transition Work Programme that we closely followed leading this set, and the nearly-failed and unsatisfactory outcome on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance closely following it. Some of the events were incredibly alarming - the Azerbaijani Presidency trying to take control of the process and breaking its rules, certain delegations openly disrespecting others against collective progress, and the overall dynamic hinting at the world moving away from cooperation more than ever…
Well, at this special point in time, our mission appears more clear than ever: we must protect cooperation, we must preserve dialogue, and we must show the world how to do it. We will stay committed to do so - and we need all voices on board, including yours!
~Zuzanna Borowska
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