COP29 President Champions Scaled-Up Climate Finance for a Sustainable Future
In a resounding call for united global action, Mukhtar Babayev, President of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UNFCCC, has urged the international community to dramatically strengthen Climate Finance and deepen cooperation among global environmental conventions. Speaking at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, Babayev underscored that effective climate action will only be possible when nations, institutions, and communities work together to bridge the financing gap and integrate environmental goals.
With the theme “From Baku to Belém: Roadmap for a Resilient Planet,” Babayev’s address highlighted the urgent need to scale up climate finance to at least $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to help developing nations mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. His message—delivered at one of the most influential environmental gatherings ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil—set a forward-looking tone for the next phase of global climate cooperation.
Reaffirming Commitment to the Rio Trio: A Unified Environmental Vision
In his remarks, the COP29 President reaffirmed his commitment to the “Rio Trio” of environmental conventions—the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). These three landmark conventions, all born at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, represent the pillars of sustainable global environmental governance.
Babayev emphasized that these frameworks should not operate in silos but in synergy, reinforcing one another’s goals to achieve meaningful and measurable impact.
“Our planet’s challenges are interconnected—climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation feed into each other. It’s time our solutions reflect this interdependence,” Babayev stated.
By calling for harmonized action among the Rio Trio, Babayev laid the foundation for a cohesive global environmental architecture, where climate finance mechanisms, biodiversity restoration efforts, and land management strategies align toward shared sustainability outcomes.
Climate Finance: The Engine of Global Transformation
Central to Babayev’s message was the pivotal role of climate finance in enabling developing and vulnerable nations to achieve low-carbon, resilient growth. He noted that while international commitments have increased since the Paris Agreement, the actual flow of funds remains well below the scale required to address the escalating climate crisis.
The proposed $1.3 trillion annual target by 2035 marks a significant step up from current global financing levels. Babayev emphasized that this goal should not merely be a pledge but a binding and transparent commitment—supported by both public and private capital, green bonds, and innovative funding mechanisms.
He called on multilateral development banks, private investors, and philanthropic institutions to play a catalytic role in closing the finance gap, adding that “no nation should be left behind because of inadequate access to finance or technology.”
Abu Dhabi: The Global Stage for Climate Collaboration
The IUCN World Conservation Congress, held in Abu Dhabi from October 9–15, 2025, brought together a diverse array of participants including government representatives, NGOs, youth leaders, indigenous communities, and environmental researchers. The event served as a dynamic platform to exchange knowledge, shape collective strategies, and strengthen partnerships for planetary health.
In his address, Babayev described the Congress as “a valuable space to engage with stakeholders across sectors, from grassroots activists to government officials.” He highlighted the importance of multi-level engagement, where local wisdom, scientific innovation, and policy frameworks come together to create tangible environmental outcomes.
Acknowledging Brazil’s leadership as the host of COP30 in Belém, Babayev extended his support for ongoing preparatory work, calling for continuity between Baku’s outcomes at COP29 and Belém’s vision for the next decade of climate action.
Baku to Belém: A Roadmap for Collective Action
The Baku to Belém Roadmap—outlined during Babayev’s speech—represents a forward-looking framework connecting the outcomes of COP29 in Azerbaijan with the ambitions of COP30 in Brazil. The roadmap aims to ensure continuity in policy commitments, financial mobilization, and stakeholder engagement, particularly for developing economies in the Global South.
Key pillars of this roadmap include:
- Scaling Climate Finance: Ensuring predictable and accessible funding for adaptation, mitigation, and loss-and-damage initiatives.
- Fostering Synergy Across Conventions: Aligning the Rio Trio for integrated approaches to biodiversity, land, and climate management.
- Empowering Local and Indigenous Communities: Strengthening participatory mechanisms for those most affected by environmental change.
- Enhancing Data and Accountability: Establishing transparent systems for measuring and reporting climate finance outcomes.
- Promoting Green Innovation: Encouraging investment in clean technologies, renewable energy, and nature-based solutions.
Together, these priorities form a comprehensive agenda for global sustainability—anchored in equity, inclusivity, and shared responsibility.
A Renewed Sense of Global Responsibility
The call for enhanced climate finance and environmental synergy has been welcomed by several international leaders and organizations attending the Congress. Delegates echoed Babayev’s message that climate change, biodiversity, and desertification are not isolated crises but interwoven threats requiring integrated responses.
Participants noted that developing nations—often the least responsible for emissions—bear the greatest burden of climate impacts. Addressing this imbalance through financial justice and technology transfer remains a moral and developmental imperative.
The conversations at Abu Dhabi also reflected optimism about the Paris Agreement’s Global Stocktake outcomes, emphasizing that renewed multilateralism and collective financing can deliver measurable progress by the end of the decade.
Looking Ahead: Building Momentum for COP30
As preparations intensify for COP30 in Belém, Babayev’s vision of a well-coordinated, well-financed, and inclusive environmental framework has set the tone for negotiations. His speech in Abu Dhabi was more than a policy appeal—it was a call to global solidarity.
By focusing on synergy, finance, and cooperation, he underscored that the path from Baku to Belém is not just a transition between conferences, but a bridge of shared purpose connecting nations, ecosystems, and communities toward a common goal of climate resilience.
In a world grappling with record heatwaves, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss, Babayev’s remarks served as both a reminder and a rallying cry—that hope lies in collaboration and action backed by finance. The message was clear: achieving a sustainable future demands not only commitments but capital, cooperation, and conviction.
Turning Vision into Action
The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 has reaffirmed its position as a critical milestone on the global environmental calendar. Through his address, President Mukhtar Babayev positioned Climate Finance as the cornerstone of a just and effective global transition.
As the world looks toward COP30 in Belém, the challenge ahead is to translate the Baku to Belém Roadmap into concrete results—channeling the spirit of synergy across borders and institutions.
In Babayev’s words, “When finance meets collaboration, ambition becomes reality.”
That, perhaps, is the defining message for this decade of climate action.
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