Students and researchers from University College Cork (UCC) will again attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Conference of the Parties (COP) when the 29^th edition of the summit takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan this week.

COP 29 (November 11-22) will bring together nations to assess global efforts to limit the levels climate change against targets set by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement, and other international accords.

The most recent COP, COP28, was held last year in Dubai and was the largest attended climate COP in history, convening 97,000 delegates, and more than 150 heads of state. For the first time in 28 years of negotiations, nearly 200 countries agreed to “transition away” from fossil fuels.

Dr Fionn Rogan, Senior Research Fellow in Energy Systems Modelling at UCC/ERI who will lead the delegation, said

“The annual COP is an opportunity to evaluate progress on the climate action pledges that were made last year. In addition to the pledge to transition away from fossil fuels, last year’s COP agreed targets to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030.

“COP29 in Azerbaijan has been billed as the finance COP. Success or failure will be measured on whether or not the countries of the world can agree sufficient climate finance to achieve targets for energy, loss and damages, and climate adaptation. I’m honoured to be leading the UCC delegation that will observe at first hand the progress of the negotiations and will be present to remind all negotiators of the urgent need to reach agreement,” he said.

Erin O’Riordan, a recent UCC Law graduate who is attending COP 29 said:

“I am attending as a Youth Delegate for Plan International Ireland, so I am really excited to connect with other young people passionate about climate justice. I hope to demystify and share insights with Irish youth about COP and the UNFCCC,” she said.

Cian Walsh, UCC Students’ Union Environmental and Sustainability Representative said:

“I am excited and nervous for COP29, the 'Finance COP,' where it will be vital to ensure that high-quality and substantial climate finance is secured. I am attending to advocate for greater investment in sustainable development, particularly in agriculture and food systems. My hope is that we leave this COP with concrete commitments that will drive real, positive change for both people and the planet, in particular, I hope that we leave this COP with an ambitious climate finance goal,” he said.

Four key words will dominate negotiations at Baku’s climate summit: loss, damage, adaptation and mitigation.  These refer to the four pillars of climate action, where countries fund new infrastructure to protect people against the worst effects of climate change.

A total of five representatives from UCC will attend the summit over the eleven days. They are:

• Dr Barry Hayes, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Power Systems Engineering at UCC and a Funded Investigator in the MaREI Research Centre for Energy, Climate, and Marine.
• Sumaya Mohammed, a Climate and Human Rights Activist, Quercus Active Citizenship Scholar, and First Year Law student.
• Erin O’Riordan, a recent UCC Law graduate and Research Assistant at the Traveller Equality and Justice Project.
• Dr Fionn Rogan, Senior Research Fellow in Energy Systems Modelling at ERI/University College Cork and MaREI Research Centre for Energy, Climate, and Marine.
• Cian Walsh, UCC Students’ Union Environmental and Sustainability Representative, Quercus Active Citizenship Scholar, and First Year BSc Government and Political Science student.

Over 500 researchers are engaged on sustainability at UCC and its research has shaped Ireland's key national climate policies. 

Speaking ahead of the delegation’s departure, UCC President Prof. John O’Halloran said;

“Climate Change remains the greatest challenge of our time, and the annual COP summits are an important opportunity to hold leading nations to account for their commitment to finding solutions to an ever-changing world.”