COP29 roundup

The UN climate change conference resulted in a last-minute agreement. The IMechE published a series of blogs throughout the tense two-week negotiations.

As usual, negotiations at the annual UN climate change conference COP29 over-ran. The proceedings were due to finish on Friday, but delegates were still arguing over details well into Saturday. The key takeaway was an agreement to provide a fund of $300 billion to assist developing nations to deal with the effects of climate change. Hailed as a success by some but considered much less than is required by the countries affected.

The Institution’s series of blogs during the conference began with IMechE Fellow Dr Tim Fox highlighting the need for refugee camps to be more resilient to global extreme heat.

Policy Advisor Chandni Gondria emphasised the need for engineering solutions to deal with rising sea levels. This is an ongoing programme of work for the Institution, and we have created a new advisory committee on the topic. If you are interested in getting involved, more details are here. 

With the cost of delivering Net Zero estimating to be many trillions of dollars, Kahu Te Kani explored how this might be financed.

Skills could also be a key bottleneck in delivering rapid decarbonisation. Our Education and Skill Policy Lead, Lydia Amarquaye, laid out the educational reforms needed to make sure the engineering profession is equipped to deliver.

For those interested in delving into the details of the outcomes of COP29, a comprehensive summary has been provided by Carbon Brief.