As COP29 begins in Baku, the world’s eyes turn to what’s being called the “Finance COP.”

With the financial infrastructure of climate action in focus, this conference could lay the foundation for an ambitious future framework—the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG)—poised to succeed the $100 billion annual commitment first set in Copenhagen back in 2009. Now, with estimates pointing to a need of $500 billion to $1 trillion yearly, particularly to support climate adaptation and mitigation in developing nations, COP29 promises to be a pivotal moment.

Beyond the numbers, this conference could set the stage for the ambitious climate targets to be refined at COP30 in Brazil next year.

Denmark travels to Baku to join the discussions with a robust delegation committed to collaborative, actionable solutions. For Denmark, COP29 is an opportunity to showcase the power of public-private collaboration in climate action.

At the Denmark Pavilion in the Blue Zone, nearly 50 events are planned, spanning critical topics such as energy security, shipping decarbonisation, sustainable urban design, energy efficiency, and mobilising climate finance. Get a sneak peek of what to expect at the Denmark Pavilion below.

1. Bridging the divide: Collaborative pathways for sustainable agriculture and climate action

• Theme: Agriculture and Food Systems
• Date & time: Tuesday 12. November, 13:00- 13:45
• Organized by: The Danish Agriculture and Food Council
• Speakers: Christian Stenberg (Danish Ministry of Climate), Herwig Ranner (European Commission), John Tauzel (EDF), Mark Isbell (Farmer, Arkansas, USA), Niels Peter Nørring (Climate Director, Danish Agriculture and Food Council), Sharon Cherono (KENAFF)

This session tackles the challenge of uniting diverse stakeholders in agriculture to foster sustainable practices. Using Denmark’s “Tripartite Agreement” as a model, the panel will discuss Denmark’s successful collaborative approach that involves the government, farmers, and NGOs. Topics include rewetting peatlands, creating forests, and introducing a greenhouse gas tax to ensure sustainable agricultural practices that balance environmental responsibility with sectoral growth.

2. A make-or-break moment: The role of regulation in the green transition of shipping

• Theme: Transport
• Date & Time: Wednesday 13. November, 10:15- 11:00
• Organised by: A.P. Møller – Mærsk
• Speakers: Alexandre Silveira (Brazilian Minister of Mines & Energy), Arsenio Dominguez (IMO), Kara Hurst (Amazon), Morten Bo Christiansen (A.P. Moller – Maersk), Zhang Min (Sungrow Hydrogen)

This critical discussion highlights the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2023 GHG Strategy, exploring how regulation can fast-track the decarbonization of the global shipping industry. As a sector heavily reliant on fossil fuels, shipping’s green transition is key to sustainable global trade. Participants will focus on the potential impact of a global pricing mechanism for shipping emissions, aiming to create equitable pathways for investment in renewables and reduce shipping’s carbon footprint on a global scale.

3. Decarbonizing our building stock: Setting the right framework to drive uptake

• Theme: Building and Construction
• Date & Time: Wednesday 13. November, 11:15- 12:00
• Organized by: VELUX, KOMPAS VC, and Urban Partners
• Speakers: Julie Kjestrup (VELUX), Peter Hirsch (2150), Victoria Burrows (Kompas VC), Muyiwa Oki (RIBA President)

Focused on scaling up solutions for sustainable buildings, this event examines regulatory and market strategies for building decarbonization. By addressing the need for robust frameworks, the session outlines four critical areas: the scale of emissions in construction, material solutions, policy support, and financing for widespread adoption. Panelists will explore how these measures can converge to drive tangible change in the building sector, enabling a shift toward net-zero-ready infrastructure.

4. Regional energy efficiency initiatives: driving cross-sectoral progress from the global south

• Theme: Energy Efficiency
• Date & Time: Saturday 16 November, 15:15- 17:00
• Organized by: Climate Champions Team, AFREC, and OLADE
• Speakers: Luciano Caratori (Climate Champions), Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid (African Union), Andres Rebolledo (OLADE), Timur Gül (IEA), Steven Kukoda (International Copper Association)

Highlighting regional energy efficiency initiatives across Africa, Latin America, MENA, and Southeast Asia, this high-level session addresses best practices for implementing energy efficiency solutions. Focusing on cross-sectoral cooperation, the event will explore how policy and market-based approaches foster a conducive environment for investment in energy-efficient technologies. Discussions will align on strategies to accelerate the Global South’s progress toward doubling global energy efficiency by 2030.

5. Leveraging nature inside cities: exploring urban climate action experiences from Brazil and Denmark

• Theme: Urban Climate Action
• Date & Time: Wednesday 20 November, 15:15- 16:00
• Organized by: UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre & State of Green
• Speakers: Henry Neufeldt (UNEP-CCC), Robert Brears (Our Future Water), Jóna Olavsdóttir (Nordic Council of Ministers), C40’s Global Head of Advocacy

This event will explore the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in enhancing urban resilience against climate impacts such as heat, flooding, and erosion. Bringing insights from UNEP-CCC’s latest research and UNEP’s 2024 Adaptation Gap Report, the discussion will spotlight how cities can adopt green and blue infrastructure. Emphasizing the value of NbS in improving urban quality of life and climate resilience, panellists will address current challenges in scaling NbS due to funding and knowledge barriers, underscoring the need for enhanced collaboration across sectors.