HiESD and WISDP team at the COP29
01 – Arrival at Baku
On 11 November 2024, the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development’s team arrived in Baku to embark on the COP29 journey.
The COP Conference is an annual global climate conference, in which Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gathers together, including country leaders, experts, NGOs and businesses, to discuss how to tackle climate change challenges.
The Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development Education (HiESD) and the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners (WISDP) will partner with the China Environment Publishing Group and the Sun Yat-sen University to host the side event “Tell the story of China’s response to climate change and create new advantages in addressing climate change with new quality productivity” at the China Pavilion” at COP29.
One of the greatest focus of his year’s COP29 is climate finance, so it is also called the “Climate Finance Conference of the Parties (Finance COP)”. Representatives of various countries will negotiate new climate financing targets at the COP29 conference and update the existing commitment of “providing US$100 billion in annual financing by 2025.”
Hong Kong is an international financial center. In addition to taking a number of measures to promote the development of green and sustainable finance in the region, we also actively participated in international climate negotiations and forums to promote regional and international green finance cooperation. On November 11, the first day of the conference, the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council and the Friends of the Earth Hong Kong held a side event on “Advancing Transition Finance and Cross-border Green Financing – Engaging the Public to Achieve a Net-Zero Emission Future” at the China Pavilion of COP29.
Our team representing the Hong Kong Institute of Sustainable Development Education and the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners attended the side event to give active support. Professor Karen Cheung, Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development and President of the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners, Ir.Ho Chi-Shing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency and General Manager of the Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) Society Limited, Mr. Ting Kwok-To, Chief Operating Officer of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency and Prof. Wang Liyan, Chair Professor of the Hong Kong Institute Education for Sustainable Development, Professor at the Guanghua School of Management of Peking University had thorough conversation with Dr Au King-lun, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Financial Development Council (FSDC), Mr. Daniel Fung SC, Vice- Chairman of the FSDC, and other prestigious guests, hoping to work together to promote Hong Kong’s green economy development empowered by green talents and technology. This enables Hong Kong to leverage its advantages in connecting national and international finance and trade. In 2021, the ” Careers of Tomorrow: Financial Talents in the Digital, Sustainable Economy of Hong Kong ” report released by the Hong Kong Financial Development Council specifically recognised the HiESD’s professional training, teaching materials and certification of sustainable development planners on page 38. It is believed that, with the help of sustainable development planners, Hong Kong can guide more green funds to flow to sustainable projects, become an international hub for green financing, and accelerate regional and global cooperation in promoting sustainable finance.
In the afternoon of November 11, Mr.Zhao Yingmin, head of the Chinese delegation at COP29 and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, attended the China Pavilion Side Meeting with the theme of “Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China” and delivered an opening remark. In his remark, he pointed out that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government has placed the important of constructing a ecological civilization to a new height, coordinated effort has been made to promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth, creating ecological and green development miracles that have attracted worldwide attention. Looking into the future, he emphasized that China will surely commit to the path of green and low-carbon development, accelerate the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, vigorously cultivate, and develop new productive forces, improve the market-oriented mechanism of green transformation, and provide new solutions and role model for global environmental and climate governance. This also corresponds to the side event with the theme of “Tell the Story of China’s Response to Climate Change and Creat New Advantages in Addressing Climate Change with New Quality Productivity” to be held by the Hong Kong Institute Education for Sustainable Development and the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners on November 14 at the China Pavilion.
DAY 2 – Experience the magnificent culture of Baku’s “UNESCO World Heritage”
As the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku not only has innovative and modern buildings such as the city landmark Flame Towers and Heydar Aliyev Centre, but also retains ancient and vivid historical footprints. In this city that blends the history and the new, “Shirvanshah Palace and Maiden Tower” and “Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape” are listed on the “UNESCO World Heritage List.” In 2019, the 43rd World Heritage Conference of UNESCO was also held in Baku.
On November 12, 2024, the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development and the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners arranged a one-day “UNESCO World Heritage” themed exploration for the COP29 participating team to visit the spectacular heritage sites. The exploration allowed the team to immerse in the history of Azerbaijan, experience its unique culture, and travel through the inner city and old city to witness its multiple stages of evolution.
Salt weathering will occur on sandstone under the influence of an arid and hot climate, and this has become more serious under the trend of climate change and global warming in recent years, posing a serious threat to the protection of world heritage sites, including the “Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape.” We hope that through global efforts under the COP, climate change will be mitigated, and innovative solutions will be found for its impact on World Heritage sites.
DAY 3 – China and Hong Kong Demonstrate Leadership in New Energy Development
On November 13, the COP29 conference reached its third day. Mr. Ding Xuexiang, Special Representative of President Xi Jinping, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the World Leaders Climate Action Summit and delivered a speech. Ding emphasised that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the foundation of strengthening global climate governance. Developed countries should show greater ambition and action, fulfil their obligations to take the lead in reducing emissions, and accelerate the progress towards carbon neutrality. Developing countries should also do their best within their capabilities. He called on developed countries to increase financial support and technology transfer to developing countries and looked forward to achieving stronger new funding targets at this conference to enhance the confidence for global climate action in the future. China is willing to work with all parties, guided by the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, to jointly protect our common home on earth and build a clean and beautiful world.
At the same time, the delegation pavilion is also packed with exciting side events hosted by different countries. The Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development and the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners participated in the side event “Climate Action: From Climate Science Opportunities to Develop New Energy,” hosted by the Environment and Ecology Bureau of HKSAR and the Hong Kong Observatory, and the side event “China Energy Transition and New Energy Development & Launch of China Energy Transformation Outlook 2024,” hosted by the Energy Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Macro-Economic Research.
Representatives of the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development and the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners met the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr. Tse Chin-wan, BBS, JP, the Commissioner for Climate Change, Mr. Wong Chuen-fai from the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the HKSAR and other Hong Kong delegates at the China Pavilion of COP29.
Prof. Karen Cheung, director of the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development and the president of the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planners presented the “United Nations Global Compact Hong Kong Regional Report 2022-2023” to Mr. Zhu Liyang, President of the China Association of Circular Economy, and Dr. Bai Quan, Director of the Energy Efficiency Centre of the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission of China.
In alignment with the global energy transition goal, China and the Hong Kong SAR are proactively taking actions, highlighting China’s leadership in climate action as a responsible nation and showcasing Hong Kong’s rapid advancements and breakthroughs in green energy technologies.
