COP29: GPFM participation and release of the Annual Report 2024

The 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change - COP29 - has taken place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.

The COP, the main annual event where all the signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gather, is a crucial appointment for the definition of global climate policies and for strengthening international cooperation.

The GPFM was represented by the Director Luciano Martini and the assistant for international cooperation activities Viktoriia Fedorova. In particular the GPFM had the opportunity to co-organise the following event at the Italian Pavilion in the Blue Zone:

• ‘Innovative Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation: Solar Radiation Management and Actions for a Mission Innovation's Green Powered Future for Africa’.
  13 November 2024, 17:30-19:00, Italian Pavilion
  The event was divided into two main sessions, both focusing on the energy transition and climate change mitigation with a special focus on Africa. The GPFM session focused on the results of the Mission, and provided an overview of the Mission's activities progress and outcomes, as well as its ongoing fruitful collaborations with key international actors and initiatives. The event was a great opportunity for policy makers and stakeholders in the energy sector, and provided a detailed and up-to-date overview of the latest trends and developments in the field of clean energy and sustainability technologies. 

  Moreover, during the GPFM event at the Italian Pavilion, the GPFM successfully released the GPFM Annual Report 2024. This Report provides a comprehensive overview of the Mission activities and related achievements over the past 12 months: an exciting period where the GPFM successfully coordinated the joint R&I efforts from its 28 members and organised high-level events at international fora to disseminate its main achievements.

Additionally, Luciano Martini, in his capacity as GPFM Director, spoke at the following events:

• ‘Challenging towards Carbon Neutrality through Innovative Energy Technologies’.
  15 November, 9:45-11:15 am, Japan Pavilion
  The event was organised by RD20 (Research and Development 20 for clean energy technologies), an “initiative” (framework) for international research and development aiming to strengthen international collaboration by leading research institutes in G20 countries and regions that develop the world’s most advanced technologies for achieving carbon neutrality. The seminar was an important opportunity to present RD20's recent activities and R&D results, and to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in the clean energy sector, analysing the prospects for achieving global carbon neutrality and the crucial role of international collaborations.

• ‘3DEN Initiative: implementing tomorrow's smart power systems’
  16 November, 15:30-17:00, Italian Pavilion
  The event, co-organised by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), brought together 3DEN Initiative partners and pilot project leaders to celebrate the successes achieved and reflect on the lessons learned from Phase I (2020-2024). Participants discussed the impact of digital tools on grid optimisation and demand management, focusing on how these technologies have improved energy efficiency and energy security. Looking to the future, the event introduced and launched the new 3DEN Phase II call for pilot projects, which aims to accelerate the digitisation of agrifood and urban systems, with a geographical focus on Africa.

The GPFM delegation was also actively involved in other key events, such as the panel event organised by the Green Grids Initiative (GGI) and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA) ‘Delivering the Grids pledge - The essential role of finance’, which focused on the pivotal role of finance in transforming global energy grids to support renewable energy integration. A Breakthrough Agenda High-Level Event was also attended, where ministers, policymakers and leading representatives of international organisations showcased the progress being made, the shared high ambitions for the year ahead, and highlighted where great efforts are most needed.