APN attends the UNFCCC 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29)

11 to 23 November 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan – The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) actively participated in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP29). Dr Hiroaki Shibuya, Deputy Director of the APN Secretariat, represented the network and engaged in a series of outreach activities, bilateral meetings and side events to strengthen partnerships and advance climate adaptation initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region.

Honouring Prof. Saleemul Huq and launching APN’s latest publication

APN’s latest publication, “Linking Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Loss & Damage,” was launched during the side event “Agrobiodiverse Agroecology in Building Climate Resilience,” organised by the South Asian Forum for Environment (SAFE) and the Global Alliance for the Future of Food. Dr Dipayan Dey, esteemed APN project leader, served as a keynote speaker at the event, which highlighted the importance of sustainable agricultural solutions in enhancing food security, biodiversity and climate adaptation.

A key moment of the side event was the tribute to the late Prof Saleemul Huq, OBE, a renowned climate change expert and veteran of the UNFCCC COP. The tribute honoured Prof Huq’s invaluable contributions to global climate action and celebrated his legacy as a guiding force in shaping effective policies and strategies. Dr Shibuya presented an overview of the publication, emphasising its focus on the interconnected aspects of climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and addressing loss and damage.

APN Deputy Director Shibuya and APN Project Leader Dr Dipayan Dey in the SAFE booth

Expanding APN’s outreach and sharing expertise

APN broadened its outreach through participation in other sessions at COP29. Dr Shibuya briefy introduced APN in a session hosted by Mr Yukihiro Haisa, Director of the Climate Change Science and Adaptation Office, Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), at the Japan Pavilion. This session focused on the intersection of climate change and public health, particularly infectious threats.

In addition, APN participated in the hybrid side event “Smart Pathway to Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation,” where APN Scientific Planning Group member, Dr Wenjie Dong, served as a speaker. The conference attracted hundreds of participants from government sectors, research institutions, universities, enterprises and non-governmental organisations. More than a dozen experts convened to discuss the impacts of climate change, adaptation measures and mitigation strategies. APN was honoured to have the opportunity to deliver the closing remarks.

Strengthening regional partnerships through bilateral meetings

Bilateral meetings formed a central part of APN’s engagement at COP29. APN met with Ms ‘Ofa Ma‘asi-Kaisamy, Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC), Mr Taiji Watanabe, Project Coordinator of PCCC, and Mr Yoshihiro Mizuno, General Manager of Pacific Consultants Co., Ltd. Discussions centred on aligning regional priorities for Pacific island nations, highlighting the need for enhanced coordination and collaborative efforts to address the climate challenges unique to the region.

APN meets with Ms ‘Ofa Ma‘asi-Kaisamy, Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC), and Mr Taiji Watanabe to discuss key initiatives on climate resilience in the Pacific region.

In another meeting, Dr Shibuya engaged with Ms Susmita Mishra, a Research Associate at the Center of Research for Environment, Energy, and Water (CREEW), to discuss the progress of the Asia-Pacific Network of Early Career Professionals for Global Change Research (APN-ECAP) initiative. This initiative aims to empower early-career professionals in the Asia-Pacific region to undertake impactful research addressing global change.

Dr Shibuya with Ms Susmita Mishra from the Research Associate at the Center of Research for Environment, Energy, and Water (CREEW)

Dr. Ahmad Fairedz Jumaluddin of the Malaysian Meteorological Department was an invited speaker at the Japan Pavilion. He delivered a presentation and participated in a panel discussion on Malaysia’s early warning systems. To further advance such initiatives, the APN Secretariat engaged in a Bilateral Discussion with him, exchanging views on the role of scientific networks in adaptation efforts and future collaboration opportunities.

APN also met with Nepalese officials, including Dr Shiva Khanal (new member of the Capacity Development Committee), Dr Buddi Sagar Poudol and Ms Deepa Oli, alongside representatives from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The dialogue focused on issues surrounding Himalayan water resources, which impact nearly 2 billion people. Discussions highlighted APN’s involvement in the UNFCCC Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Subregion, a key initiative promoting sustainable management of vital resources and building resilience for communities dependent on the Himalayan ecosystem.