TOGETHER FOR A CHANGE: Interreg NEXT MED at UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan

Interreg NEXT MED will be at COP29 to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11-22, 2024. We will host multiple events at the Mediterranean, Spanish, and Climate Mobility Pavilions, along with other key venues, to explore funding and partnership opportunities for a climate-resilient Mediterranean future.

Publication Date
02/11/2024
Reading Time
6 minutes

Following successful participation in last years’ “COP27” in Sharm El-Sheikh and “COP28” in Dubai, Interreg NEXT MED Programme will be present at the United Nations Climate Change Conference “COP29” to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 November to 22 November 2024.

As a pivotal event in global climate action, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) offers a vital platform for the Programme to spotlight climate challenges facing the Mediterranean and engage with a global audience in exploring solutions to mitigate and adapt to these impacts.

Under the theme “TOGETHER FOR A CHANGE,” the Programme presence at COP29 aims to amplify Mediterranean stakeholders’ efforts and foster discussions on key topics, including the circular economy, green employment, food security, sustainability, youth in climate action, and climate mobility.

At COP29, our events will highlight the upcoming €83 million call for green transition projects launching by year-end, designed to help eligible partners secure funding to advance Mediterranean climate action. This call supports low-carbon, scalable solutions that enhance climate adaptation and resilience across sectors, from water, energy, circular economy, and disaster prevention to green transformation in SMEs, innovation, education, and policy development. Special emphasis will be placed on youth-led projects, empowering young organizations to lead climate initiatives in the region.

FOLLOW US AT COP29!
In addition to organizing different events at the Mediterranean Pavilion, promoted by the Union for the Mediterranean and where Interreg NEXT MED is a partner, the Spanish Pavillion and Climate Mobility Pavilion, representatives of the Programme will take part in side events hosted by the Food Pavilion and the UNFCCC COP29 Presidency.

Here is the lineup of events scheduled at the COP29 Blue Zone, with potential sessions to be added. Most events will be live streamed so stay tuned for updates.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: all events will take place in Baku local time, corresponding to CET+3. In the list below, you will find both the timing in local time and in Central European Time (CET).

13 November 2024

Spanish Pavilion – G20a

  • Title: “Empowering Mediterranean Youth for Climate Action: Interreg NEXT MED Funding Opportunities for Eco-Youth Projects”
  • Brief description: The event will present the call for green transition projects with a specific focus on the Eco-Youth projects and on how the young generations can benefit from the funds released by the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
  • Time: 10.00-11.00 Baku local hour, 7.00-8.00 CET

Mediterranean Pavilion – F1b

  • Title: Opening ceremony
  • Brief description: The Programme will take part in the Mediterranean Pavilion’s opening ceremony, a moment of presentation of the objectives and partners involved.
  • Time: 14.30-16.30 Baku local hour, 11.30-13.30 CET

14 November 2024

Mediterranean Pavilion – F1b

  • Title: “Call for green transition projects: spotlight on Interreg NEXT MED financing opportunities”
  • Brief descrption: This event will introduce the upcoming €83 million EU-funded Interreg NEXT MED Programme call for green transition projects, explaining how partners can access funding and play a key role in addressing climate change challenges via Mediterranean cooperation projects.
  • Time: 11.00-12.00 Baku local hour, 8.00-9.00 CET

League of Arab States Pavilion – G20b

  • Title: “Stimulating Climate Finance Strategies and Their Importance in Capacity Building to Address Environmental Challenges”, organised by the Arab Office for Youth and Environment
    Brief description: The meeting will emphasize that climate finance is essential for building capacities to tackle environmental challenges, requiring collective action to support sustainable development and protect our planet.
    Time: 12.00-13.00 Baku local hour, 9.00-10.00 CET

Mediterranean Pavilion – F1b

  • Title: “Leveraging Guarantee Schemes” organised by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA)
  • Brief description: This high-level event seeks to bring together policymakers, financial institutions, development agencies, and private sector actors to explore how guarantee schemes can be expanded and optimized to drive forward climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
  • Time: 14.30-15.30 Baku local time, 11.30-12.30 CET

15 November 2024

Pavillon de la Francophonie – I23

  • Titre : « Pour une Méditerranée plus verte et plus résiliente face au changement climatique – Opportunités pour les pays membres de la francophonie »
  • Brève description : Cet événement présentera le nouvel appel de projets de transition verte du Programme Interreg NEXT MED, financé par l’UE à hauteur de 83 millions d’euros, en expliquant comment les partenaires, notamment issus des pays de l’Organisation internationale de la francophonie, peuvent accéder aux financements et jouer un rôle clé dans la lutte contre les défis climatiques à travers des projets de coopération méditerranéenne.
  • Horaire : 11h15-12h15 heure de Baku, 8h15-9h15 CET
  • INSCRIPTIONS

Mediterranean Pavilion – F1b

  • Title: “Sustainable Innovation, Circular Economy, and Climate Change mitigation: success stories from the Mediterranean” organised by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA)
  • Brief description: This side event will explore how sustainable eco-innovations, focused on decarbonization and reduced material consumption, can be harnessed through the 4-ple helix model. Interreg NEXT MED funding opportunities in the Circular Economy sector will be presented.
  • Time: 16.30-17.30 Baku local hour, 13.30-14.30 CET

Mediterranean Pavilion – F1b

  • Title: “Nature Finance: Catalyzing Green and Nature-Based Solutions/Integrating Brain Capital and Natural Capital” organized in partnership with MedWaves
  • Brief description: This event aims to explore how finance can drive a nature-positive transition by scaling up green finance, mobilizing capital for nature-based solutions, and reducing environmentally harmful financial flows. Key stakeholders from finance, government, international organizations, and environmental NGOs will discuss the current landscape and innovative pathways to boost nature-friendly investments.
  • Time: 18.00-19.00 Baku local hour, 15.00-18.00 CET

Kyrgyzstan Pavilion – F8

  • Title: “Green Buildings for Climate Action: Best Practices for Low-Carbon Development and Enablers for Regional Integration” organized by Unison Group
  • Brief description: The side event will examine how green buildings can help achieve climate goals and strengthen resilience, focusing on resource-efficient, low-carbon practices. It will address integrating green buildings into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the importance of regional and global collaboration, and insights from international best practices to encourage industry adoption and consumer interest.
  • Time: 16.00-17.30 Baku local hour, 14.00-15.30 CET

UNFCC Presidency Side Event – C6, Room Side Event 6

  • Title: “Just Transition – Perspectives from the Mediterranean Region and Global South” organised by Union for the Mediterranean, the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
  • Brief description: This session will delve into practical solutions, case studies, and innovative approaches to achieve a Just Transition. The discussion will focus on implementation strategies, challenges, and success stories from the Mediterranean Region and the Global South
  • Time: 18.30-20.00 Baku local hour, 15.30-17.00 CET
  • Venue: Room Side Event 6

16 November 2024

Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) Pavilion – F9

  • Title: “Transforming Agriculture through Innovation, Technology, and Finance to Achieve Food Security and Sustainability”
  • Brief description: Experts will discuss how cutting-edge innovations are revolutionizing traditional farming methods, promoting resource efficiency, and enhancing resilience in the face of climate change and resource scarcity. Additionally, the panel will explore how financial mechanisms can direct capital toward sustainable practices, ensuring the long-term management of vital resources such as water and land.
  • Time: 9.00-10.00 Baku local time. 6.00-7.00 CET

Mediterranean Pavillion – F1b

  • Title: “Building Green Skills: Equipping Mediterranean Talent for the Green Jobs Era”
  • Brief description: Green jobs are an emerging trend of global labor markets. An overview of the state of play of green employment and green skills will be presented as well as some Mediterranean success stories on the topic. Interreg NEXT MED funding opportunities to develop and strengthen green competencies will be presented.
  • Time: 12.30-13.30 Baku local hour, 9.30 to 10.30 CET

Climate Mobility Pavilion – B13

  • Title: “Interreg NEXT MED call for green transition projects: opportunities to address the causes of climate mobility at Mediterranean level”
  • Brief description: The event will introduce the upcoming €83 million EU-funded Interreg NEXT MED Programme call for green transition projects, explaining how partners can access funding. Key aspects of the call, including thematic priorities, participation guidelines, and project types, will be discussed. Special focus will be given to youth-led projects, empowering young organizations to drive climate resilience initiatives in the region.
  • Time: 18.30-20.00 Baku local hour, 15.30-17.00 CET

MEET US AT COP29!

Building networks and fostering synergies are essential to amplifying efforts in combating climate change.

As staff of Interreg NEXT MED Programme will be in Baku for most of the duration of COP29 do not hesitate to contact us to set an appointment if you would like to learn more about our priorities, funding and cooperation opportunities related to climate action and green transition. We will get back to you and propose a slot for a meeting based on the availability of our staff. Please send an email to: Martin Heibel (mheibel@regione.sardegna.it) and Vincent Ernoux (ernoux_vina@gva.es).

The participation of the Programme in presence, for the third time in a row, in a global event such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP, shows the relevance of Interreg NEXT MED as a cooperation platform among 15 countries enabling innovative and effective solutions to actively address the numerous environmental challenges that characterize the Mediterranean region. If you’re at COP29, be sure to connect with us!

Stay tuned on social media and on this page for updates!

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