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The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference<\/a> or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC<\/a>, more commonly referred to as COP29, was the 29th United Nations Climate Change conference<\/a>, held from 11 to 22 November 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. <\/p>\n The COP29 Presidency\u2019s plan was based on two mutually reinforcing parallel pillars. The first pillar \u2014 to \u201cenhance ambition\u201d \u2014 combines key elements to ensure all parties commit to ambitious national plans and transparency. The second pillar \u2014 to \u201cenable action\u201d \u2014 reflects the critical role of finance, a key tool to turn ambition into action and reduce emissions, adapt to climate change and address loss and damage.<\/p>\n WFEO partnered with the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC)<\/a>, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)<\/a> and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)<\/a> to develop a joint submission. The event focused on: <\/p>\n The event was split into four 10 minute presentations by speakers with supporting slides and two additional panellists providing a 5 minute presentation and two Q&A sessions. The event was moderated by Davide Stronati<\/a>, Chair of the WFEO Climate Change and Engineering Working Group<\/a>. IEEE representative Professor Saifur Rahman spoke about similar work his institution was doing to foster resilience including the sharing and thought leadership through their IEEE Climate Change Collection (ICCC) platform to engage and mobilize its 460,000+ members.<\/p>\n EIC<\/a> representative Dr. Aitazaz A. Farooque spoke about the trialing of climate smart agriculture practices on Prince Edward Island, Canada as a way to enhance food security and build resilience for the small island communities living there. WFEO representative Marie-Line Vaiani spoke about the challenges facing small island states which it comes creating resilient energy networks. Despite their diversity in culture, geography, and economic development, they face critical challenges. <\/p>\n She said, \u2018small island states are on the frontline of climate change\u2019, they only represent 1% of greenhouse gas emissions and but face the most disastrous effects of climate change\u2019. She said that it is imperative that we address the challenges they face such as their reliance on imported fossil fuels and other difficulties including electrification due to their isolated nature.<\/p>\n ICE representative David Smith spoke about ICE\u2019s Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Community Advisory Board (CAB) and how this programme works in line with the institutions goals to build resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change, in line with UNSDG 13. <\/p>\n Speaking about the work of the Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure CAB Smith said \u2018we want decarbonisation and resilience to be core to engineering and infrastructure professions and automatic on infrastructure projects\u2019. This means supporting the development coherent guidance for engineering and championing resilient case studies. <\/p>\n The work done by ICE CAB\u2019s on enabling action through the development of existing Publicly Available Specifications such as PAS 2080, the global standard for managing carbon in buildings and infrastructure as well as forthcoming standards such as Adaptation Pathways for infrastructure provide critical guidance for civil engineers. Panel presentations:<\/p>\n Senhouse discussed the results of a climate smart agriculture pilot scheme located across multiple Caribbean countries using climate smart indoor vertical farming units. She said the objective of the project was to work with schools, in particular the youth, and implement these technologies to \u2018to transfer knowledge and increase job security\u2019 within these vulnerable communities. Chan spoke about the role of water’s relationship to climate resilience in the Pacific region. She said that over last 50 years in Asia and the Pacific \u2018natural hazards in relation to water have affected 6.9 billion people\u2019 where water related stresses such extreme events sea level rise and are impacting upon communities and economies. <\/i> Side event press release<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i> Side event presentations<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i> WFEO Working Group on Engineering and Climate Change website<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i> WFEO Committee on Energy website<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i> Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) website<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i> Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) website<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe successful side event title was “Accelerating Clean Tech for Energy and Agriculture in Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Enabling action for a Just Transition<\/i>” and took place on Monday 11 November at 16:45 – 18:15 (local time).<\/p>\n\n
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\nDavide Stronati, Saifur Rahman and Marie-Line Vaiani presenting in-person during the side event<\/i>
\n <\/p>\nSpeakers:<\/h5>\n
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\nFarooque gave an overview of emerging technologies used on Prince Edward Island such as advanced modeling tools used to locate infected crops and soil management zones as well as measure greenhouse gas emissions.
\nClosing his presentation Farooque noted that collaboration is key to building resilient communities, he said \u2018we need to work with islanders and farmers to develop the technology which is useful for them\u2019.<\/p>\n\n
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\nDavide Stronati, Cheryl Senhouse, Saifur Rahman and Marie-Line Vaiani following the side-event presentations<\/i>
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\nThe vertical farming units take up less than ten square feet of space and produce up to 394 pounds of food annually. It moves away from traditional approaches to agriculture, promoting self-sufficiency as well as community resilience. <\/p>\n\n
\nChan explained that mainstreaming financial investment in climate adaptation has a significant role to play in mitigating the worst effects of climate change for vulnerable communities. The Asian Development Bank have produced an investment framework with integrated and inclusive planning that focuses on long term outcomes for vulnerable communities\u2019.
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\nDavide Stronati, Marie-Line Vaiani and Dr. Jing He at the Blue Zone at COP29<\/i>
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\nReport by Ms. Billie Donovan, climate knowledge specialist at the Institution of Civil Engineers<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n
\nFor more information:<\/b><\/p>\n