Ice caps are melting, seasons are shifting, and habitats are disappearing – these alarming effects of climate change are threatening wildlife and ecosystems globally. As COP29 unfolds in Baku, our partners are urging leaders to take immediate action to address the climate crisis. They are advocating for solutions that protect nature and the communities that depend on it.

The 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference is currently taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22. The goal is to make substantial progress toward climate targets and develop policies to tackle the crisis. 

Biodiversity organisations play a crucial role at COP29, as nature and climate are deeply interconnected. Nature offers powerful solutions to the climate challenge, provided we make informed decisions. For instance, mangroves store carbon and act as natural barriers, protecting coastal communities from extreme weather events. However, when mangroves are destroyed, carbon is released into the atmosphere, and vital marine habitats are lost. 

At the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI), our collective efforts are focused on finding effective ways to address both biodiversity and climate crises, steering the way toward a thriving planet.

Key Priorities from Our Partners at COP29 

• University of Cambridge Initiatives: The University of Cambridge, through Cambridge Zero, the Centre for Climate Repair, and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), will offer expertise in various fields. They will support key actions such as setting new financial targets to support developing countries in their climate actions, advancing nature restoration, and promoting climate education.

  Cambridge Zero will also launch their ActNowFilm, advocating for youth involvement in climate negotiations.

• Fauna & Flora’s Priorities: Fauna & Flora is working to integrate nature into climate plans by strengthening the role of nature in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – plans countries make to cut emissions and adapt to climate changes. They are also working to ensure Indigenous communities are included in the process. Check out the full list of Fauna & Flora’s COP29 priorities. 

• Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB): The RSPB is working on securing agreements for joint climate and nature action, supporting nature-based solutions to climate change, and advocating for substantial climate funding. Explore more of what RSPB wants from COP29. 

• BirdLife International: BirdLife is pushing for a nature-safe energy transition, ensuring NDCs align with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), with nature at the heart of climate action. Read more on BirdLife’s COP29 priorities. 

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): IUCN is calling for ambitious NDCs, the prioritisation of nature-based solutions, and cross-convention collaboration to address the interlinked issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. View all of the IUCN’s 10 asks here. 

• UNEP-WCMC: UNEP-WCMC’s launched a new course this month, to enable all those involved in creating National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to take better account of nature and its role in building resilience to climate change. Check out UNEP-WCMC’s course here. 

Through collaboration across our partnership, CCI is working to ensure that nature’s voice is not just heard but integral to the decisions made at COP29, driving meaningful change for both the climate and biodiversity.