For the last two days, I attended various events and had some time to explore the Old City in Baku.

November 12: NCQG High-Level Dialogue

On November 12, I attended the high-level dialogue on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Unfortunately, the originally assigned room was too small, so we were redirected to a room where we could watch the discussion on a screen. The event was delayed by about 30 minutes due to technical issues, which could have been avoided with proper pre-testing.

In this dialogue, having previously engaged in model negotiations on NCQG in class, I was interested in seeing the real dynamics. The debate largely centered on two perspectives: one from developed countries and another from the G77 and China. I listened to statements from Norway, the UK, the EU, and the US, none of which directly addressed the $1.3 trillion requested by developing countries. Instead, these countries agreed to scale up on the prior $100 billion commitment and requested a renegotiation on the contributor base. They also expressed the need for clearer details in some sections of the agreement.

Interestingly, developed countries suggested that discussions should prioritize the needs of developing countries while also proposing additional topics for further review. Many developed countries, including the UK and the US, called for small group discussions. Developing countries, on the other hand, aligned their statements with the G77 and China, reiterated their quantum and quality requests for a grant-based $1.3 trillion, and emphasized that revisiting the contributor base was a distraction. They argued that the inaction of developed countries is unfair given historical emissions and economic disparities. Overall, the discussion felt repetitive, with both sides largely reiterating their established positions.

Singapore Pavilion: Carbon Market Panel

I also attended a panel on the carbon market at the Singapore pavilion. Singapore, in collaboration with the United Nations, is working on harmonized standards and promoting the creation of legal documentation to support carbon markets. They aim to involve the private sector but face challenges in standardizing the carbon market, such as allowing the market itself to decide on certain actions and instilling client confidence in carbon-related purchases. Currently, there’s no universal standard for measuring private sector carbon footprints.

World Bank Pavilion: Bridging the Adaptation Financing Gap

Today, I joined a discussion at the World Bank pavilion titled “Bridging the Adaptation Financing Gap: Challenges and Potential Solutions.” I learned that governments are actively working to make the private sector aware of the importance of climate change adaptation investments. One expert emphasized that projects vary in nature and require tailored approaches. When asked about universal standards for tracking the efficiency of adaptation methods, experts noted that work is still ongoing in this area. This raised my curiosity about how organizations assess the effectiveness of their projects.

Exploring Baku’s Old City

In addition to attending negotiations and pavilion discussions, I had the chance to explore Baku’s Old City. I loved seeing the many cats roaming freely and comfortably; they showed no fear of people, which speaks to how well the locals treat these street animals. I also visited the Carpet Museum and admired the beautiful, hand-made carpets on display.