As the world grapples with record-breaking carbon emissions, rapidly melting ice sheets, and the pressing need for urgent climate action, all eyes will be on Baku for the COP29 climate summit.

Hosted by Azerbaijan, which holds the presidency of this year’s conference, the summit will take place from November 11 to November 22 and is set to bring together global leaders, policymakers, and climate activists to tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

More than 180 countries are expected to be represented at the summit, with heads of state and government from across the globe set to attend.

The meeting promises to be one of the most consequential in recent memory, given the accelerating pace of climate change and the increasingly urgent calls for global cooperation to curb its devastating effects.

Topics such as record-high carbon emissions, the rapid disappearance of polar ice, and the geopolitical ramifications of the climate crisis will dominate the discussions.

Azerbaijan, which is hosting the event for the first time, has put forward a set of ambitious initiatives for COP29, focusing on areas like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, tackling organic waste, and promoting hydrogen as a green energy alternative.

Notable in the official agenda for COP29 is the absence of any mention of the key pledge made during last year’s COP28 summit in Dubai — the global commitment to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The return of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the international stage also adds a layer of complexity to this year’s summit.

The Baku summit will be a defining moment in the global fight against climate change, as countries work to reconcile their economic interests with the need for environmental stewardship.

With climate science becoming ever more urgent and political will testing the limits of international diplomacy, COP29 has the potential to shape the future of our planet for generations to come.

Agencies.