The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will commence in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on Monday, bringing global leaders together to tackle the worsening climate crisis. The conference, which will run until November 22, aims to address escalating climate challenges that threaten communities worldwide. “As global temperatures reach record highs and extreme weather events affect people across the globe, COP29 will unite leaders from governments, business, and civil society to advance concrete solutions to this defining issue of our time,” the UN stated. A key focus of the event will be on climate finance, with trillions of dollars needed to support countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting populations from the devastating impacts of climate change. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), established in 1992 following the first assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is the key multilateral treaty in global climate negotiations. Its primary goal is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous human-induced interference with the climate system. Since entering into force in 1994, the UNFCCC has laid the groundwork for major global agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015. Currently, 198 parties participate in annual meetings to assess progress and respond to the global climate crisis. — Agencies