Highlights and images for 16 November 2024

The closing of the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) painted a dire picture of progress achieved during the first week of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the UNFCCC. Further consideration of several issues was pushed to the SBs' sessions in June 2025, including:

• review of the Adaptation Committee;
• the 2024 Review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage;
• linkages between the Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism; and
• provision of support for developing country reporting under both the Convention and the Paris Agreement.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Parties had a lengthy debate over the fate of discussions on the mitigation work programme. While no one expected agreement on the substance at this point, parties could not even agree to capture the exchange of views during the first week. The governing body of the Paris Agreement is free to continue addressing the subject in the second week, as it falls under its own purview, but these discussions will start with a blank page. The main sticking point in these negotiations is whether to take forward the mitigation-focused outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST), especially the calls for energy transition.

The least developed countries (LDCs) underscored the “real and devastating consequences” of overshooting the 1.5°C target, including “loss of lives and the destruction of livelihoods.” The African Group, Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs), and Arab Group, on the other hand, accused developed countries of attempting to impose a “prescriptive, top-down” approach to mitigation.

Although it did not spur the same outrage, the negotiations on the just transition work programme suffered the same fate, with no text forwarded to the second week. Other issues fared a bit better, as discussions under the governing bodies will continue on the basis of draft text. But some of these texts are mere bullet point lists, such as the dialogue on implementing the GST. Others, like the new finance goal, are replete with brackets, signaling lack of agreement on individual words or entire paragraphs. And some of these brackets are more sobering than others: “They bracketed a reference to addressing violence against women,” fumed an outraged observer with regard to the text on gender.

Considering the session ran past midnight, the Subsidiary Bodies closed without the customary statements by parties and observers. They will have the opportunity to outline their expectations for the second week on Monday, when the Presidency presents the proposed mode of work for discussions under the governing bodies.

Those still in attendance nevertheless expressed their gratitude to the outgoing Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), Nabeel Munir, and the outgoing Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), Harry Vreuls, who urged parties to find common ground during the second week. Parties indeed have a significant amount of work ahead.