Last month saw the 29^th iteration of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. With the impact of global warming becoming ever more apparent, the event offered the potential to develop legislation that could help support a reduction in carbon emissions and slow the broader effects of climate change. But what were the outcomes of COP29, and what impact will it have on policy careers and skills demand?

COP29

It's fair to say that navigating the often-complex range of discussions at major climate conferences like this is challenging to say the least. This year’s event was no different, and to those unfamiliar with the world of climate legislation it can feel like an impossible task to keep abreast of everything that took place. Previous events have had varied success and have been criticised for a lack of actionable results. COP21 in Paris was the notable outlier and concluded with an agreement to limit warming to “well below” 2°C. However, as we’ve since seen, with these targets likely being missed, agreeing to terms on paper is very different to actioning real change.

This year’s event was labelled ‘the finance COP’ and all countries that took part placed a focus on identifying routes to develop financial support to aid the transition away from fossil fuels, and into renewable and sustainable energy sources. It ultimately concluded over 33 hours later than initially scheduled, with several last-minute policy negotiations taking place.

Countries with larger economies were asked to bear the brunt of the costs to support this change, with smaller ones arguing that attempting to reach targets could create long-lasting damage to their economies. In total, this group of nations pushed for $1.3 trillion, but have been pledged $300bn, although there are plans to supplement this amount through private sources. While this is a disappointing outcome for those seeking a swifter climate transition, it does still offer a platform for progression and enables the development of newer emission-reducing policies, albeit at a smaller scale than planned. Some critics have, perhaps harshly, suggested the conference represented a deferral of failure, rather than any real success.

Country focus

Within the UK specifically, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband argued that the cost benefits make the renewable energy transition “unstoppable”, regardless of any individual country’s political choices, highlighting the new Labour Government’s focus on reducing emissions. And whilst the USA looks set to move away from its climate goals under the second presidential reign of Donald Trump, other major economies have taken more action. China in particular has taken major steps to decrease its carbon output and its emissions will likely fall for the first time in 2024. Despite its often-criticised role in contributing to the release of greenhouse gases, the country also installed more solar capacity in 2023 than the USA ever has. However, it also remains steadfast in its opposition to compulsory financial contributions and offered a separate aid package, worth $25bn, in its place at COP29.

COP29 and policy careers

One clear factor that was highlighted at both COP29 and other supporting events is the need for more policy and public affairs expertise within the areas of climate and sustainability. Along with economically and ideologically-led opposition to boosting finances in these areas, one of the core reasons why there are more words than actions is that there is a dearth of specialist professionals with the advocacy skills and political awareness to drive real change.

Now more than ever, lobbying groups, trade associations, public sector agencies and corporates are seeking policy and public affairs specialists with deep technical knowledge of the nuanced subjects within energy and environment who can clearly and confidently communicate the multidisciplinary complexities of the crisis. They need to be able to translate knowledge across different sectors and disciplines to tackle the broadest global challenges and ultimately develop solutions.

As we saw with the recent floods in Spain and across mainland Europe, the climate crisis is only worsening and beginning to hit closer to home. As its effects increase, even governments that resist the clear evidence in front of them will be forced to adapt their positions and look to drive more sustainable policies that can mitigate risk. This renewed focus on tackling the climate crisis, even if not apparent at COP29, is almost guaranteed, and will only create a need for more specialist public affairs and policy professionals able to shape and integrate the emerging legislation. Our Salary and Employment Report, released over the summer, highlighted that major turnover was on the horizon in these markets, and it’s likely that many specialists will be considering a more sustainability-focused position in the New Year and beyond. If you’re looking to help support the fight against climate change and are seeking a public affairs or policy position in these markets, get in touch with our expert team.

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