Stockholm scientists present at the COP29 climate summit
The UN's annual climate conference COP (this year number 29 in the series) is gathered 11–22 November in Baku, Azerbaijan. We have asked some researchers at Stockholm University what they will do at the conference and what they expect from COP29.
Gustaf Hugelius is professor at the Department of Physical Geography and deputy director of the Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University.
Why are you going to COP29 in Baku?
“I am going there to represent the Bolin Centre for Climate Research. The Bolin Centre is one of the organizations behind the Cryopshere pavilion, a meeting place for research and policy on the Earth system's frozen components, the cryosphere.”
What will you focus on during COP29?
Photo: Sören Andersson
“I am organizing a theme day on permafrost with presentations and panel discussions where we present the latest research on how thawing permafrost affects the climate. Among other things, we present a new study that shows that the permafrost region is already warming the global climate. ”
What are your hopes for the outcome of COP29?
“The negotiations will have a lot of focus on financing. This applies to resources to be able to implement climate-friendly policies and development. But money is also being discussed for a fund for "Loss and damage", where developing countries can be compensated for the climate-driven disasters that affect them. In both of these issues of financing, it is important that developed and developing countries can come closer together. It is also very important that many countries can demonstrate policies and actual measures to achieve at least the goals set at COP28. Unfortunately, emissions in 2024 point to a continued bad trend.”
The impact of "private diplomats" on climate policy
Photo: Rickard Kilström
Adrienne Sörbom, professor of sociology at the Stockholm Centre for Organizational Research (SCORE), is also in Baku. She is leading a research project on how think tanks and similar organizations can use COP to participate in and influence climate policy.
“I am going to COP to conduct research on a group of actors who are active before, during and after the meeting. They want to inform and influence the negotiations. We call them 'private diplomats'. They are employed by organisations such as think tanks, industry organisations and private research institutes.”
What are you going to do on site?
“My work will consist of interviewing these 'private diplomats' and observing their activities in both open and closed contexts.”
Pricing of carbon dioxide emissions
Gustav Martinsson is professor of financial economics at the Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University. He conducts research on how pricing of carbon dioxide emissions affects the transition of companies and the business community and runs a large research program where the researchers empirically examine how Swedish companies have changed their production and their behavior as a result of market-based climate policies (such as carbon taxation, emissions trading and the reduction obligation). He will not be in Baku but is closely following the results of the climate summit.
What do you think Swedish companies see as most important at COP29?
“It is hard to say. But this year's focus will be on financing (including on so-called "carbon markets"). As usual, I think clarity and a long-term perspective regarding financing are pivotal. Increased transparency and to establish financing mechanisms that lead to actual climate benefits and prevent these from becoming tools for "green washing". For companies, concrete things are needed that can be acted on before overly airy promises.”
What are your hopes for the outcome of COP29?
“A great hope is that there will be clear progress in the phasing out of subsidies for fossil energy sources. The financing issue is largely about influencing the value of assets and thus the private capital flows. With today's level of fossil subsidies, climate-damaging projects are made more profitable and thus capital is driven in its direction. If you can start phasing out these subsidies, the relative balance will be affected in favor of climate-beneficial projects and investments.”
Read more on the COP29 web
Last updated: November 11, 2024
Source: Communications Office