Briefing: Copenhagen Climate Ministerial 

Copenhagen is hosting around 40 ministers and climate negotiators to deliberate on the implementation of outcomes from COP28 and early expectations from COP29. The third edition of the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial will bring key climate negotiators under the same roof for the first time since last December’s COP28 in Dubai. The meeting is chaired by COP28 president designate Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber alongside incoming COP29 president designate Mukhtar Babayev and Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen. 

The GST decision text delivered at COP28, notably the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels,  and al-Jaber’s assertions that the 1.5°C warming threshold remains the guiding star for setting ambition show strong intent. However, its impact ultimately depends on how outcomes are delivered – in terms of quantitative goals and their urgency, as well as how the principles of equity, differentiation of responsibilities, justice and human rights are reflected.

This meeting is an opportunity to forge continued commitment in this direction. As noted by the GST decision, 80% of the carbon budget associated with a 50% probability of keeping global temperatures under the 1.5°C warming threshold is already depleted. Given the critical juncture for decisions on climate finance, financial system reform and NDC updating, an urgent elaboration of fair shares is vital to bringing equitable transformation of systems to ensure fair and just delivery of the outcomes decided at COP28.

Discussions in Copenhagen are set to cover NDCs, finance, climate change adaptation, loss & damage and mitigation. Considering upcoming deadlines to complete negotiations on the New Collective Quantitative Goal for finance at COP29 and for NDC updates ahead of COP30, as well as the commencement pivotal cross-cutting pieces of work on the Global Goal on Adaptation and the Just Transition Working Group, it is critical for the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial to send strong signals on these fronts.