What is COP?
The Conference Of Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It brings together countries to negotiate, implement, and monitor global climate action. The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, marked another milestone in global climate negotiations. This event, convening nearly 200 nations and 56,000 individuals, focused on issues such as climate finance, health, and the role of youth in shaping a sustainable future. As the climate crisis intensifies, COP29 highlighted progress and challenges in addressing the urgent need for equitable and inclusive climate solutions.
Our Personal Experience at COP
Attending COP for the first time was an eye-opening experience, filled with anticipation and uncertainty about what to expect. Early on, we heard the news about Argentina withdrawing from the conference and the presence of the Taliban in Baku, which added a layer of scepticism to the proceedings. However, arriving on the ground was a whirlwind of activity—new faces, packed schedules, and bustling pavilions representing various organisations and countries. This unique, new territory required us to orient ourselves quicker than anticipated.
Beyond the formal negotiations, there were various topics to keep an eye on such as climate migration and litigation, but the TEAP team’s focus was health and youth inclusion. The Project Lead and Project Manager of TEAP both had speaking events at COP29. Our PM, Ayomide Olude, participated in the “Showcasing Youth-Led Action on Mental Health and Climate Change” panel, spotlighting Connecting Climate Minds Project initiatives and sharing the work we do to foster resilience amongst African youth experiencing eco-anxiety. The discussion emphasised the global importance of linking mental health and psychological resilience to climate resilience. Additionally, our Project Lead, Svetlana Chigozie, spoke on a panel about Equitable Climate Action, specifically about the policies the UNFCCC can adopt to ensure that COP is a transparent and accountable space not influenced by fossil fuel lobbyists.
The TEAP team also engaged with key stakeholders such as Rukayya Muhammed, Health Focal Point for Nigeria’s National Climate Change Council; Chris Ike, Director of the Climate Change Department in Abia State; and Esther Ajah, Special Assistant on Climate Change and Sustainability to Abia State’s Government. These meaningful exchanges aimed to incorporate mental health considerations into Nigeria’s climate policy framework.
Climate and Health at COP
Unlike COP28 in Dubai, there was no dedicated health theme in Baku, and health mobilisation focused more on integrating health considerations into climate advocacy and policies. A key event to come from it is the launch of The Baku COP Presidencies Continuity Coalition for Climate and Health, consisting of Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, the UAE, and the UK. The coalition aims to guide global health-climate initiatives toward COP30 and beyond. Other key documents are the WHO COP29 Special Report on Climate and Health – “Health is the Argument for Climate Action” highlighting the health impacts of climate change, the health benefits of climate action and proposing climate strategies to improve global health, and the NDC Guidance to ensure Member States consider health when reassessing their Nationally Determined Contribution in 2025.
There were about seven side events at COP that focused on the mental health impact of climate change.
Climate Finance
The central focus of this COP was climate finance, but the outcomes fell short of expectations. Civil society had called for $5 trillion in funding, and developing nations proposed a target of $1.3 trillion. Instead, the final agreement committed developed countries to help raise “at least” $300 billion annually by 2035 for climate action—a figure far below what is necessary to ensure a Just Transition. While many have labelled this decision a betrayal, civil movements view it as a rallying point for intensified advocacy and greater action leading into COP30 in Brazil.
Conclusion
For our first COP attendance, we at TEAP are grateful for the opportunities we had not only to speak and present our work in such an integral international decision-making space but also to be able to meet inspiring environmental activists, negotiators and ministers. However, while COP makes strides in tackling critical global issues, it also reveals systemic challenges in accessibility and inclusivity. Youth participation, though increasing, still needs to be supported and accessible. Youth who deserve to be in these spaces struggle to attend due to barriers such as badge allocation, visas, logistics and financial constraints. The complex structure of negotiations also often alienates those who have yet to gain prior experience, highlighting the need for more inclusive processes.
All our learnings from COP29 have only inspired us more and affirmed that the work we do at TEAP is not only impactful but necessary. Moving forward, we aim to build on the momentum from our engagement with Government and other stakeholders at COP29 to develop collaborations that will create awareness of the mental health impacts of climate change, carry out research on the prevalence of this issue to inform policy, innovations and interventions for Africans.
Written by: Ayomide Olude
Edited by: Svetlana Chigozie Onye