The Climate Registry at COP 29

As we reflect on the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29), we are invigorated by the efforts and actions we are seeing across all sectors to achieve crucial climate goals. In the face of adversity, we have seen leadership from subnationals, NGOs, and businesses who are committed to building connections, sharing their knowledge and successes, and leading on climate action. The Climate Registry, in collaboration with Climate Action Reserve, co-hosted a bipartisan delegation to COP 29 just a few weeks ago. The delegation included North American leaders representing states, local governments, NGOs, and business executives.

We were encouraged that so many of our delegates and partners have left COP 29 with new connections and opportunities, as well as with a wealth of knowledge, innovative ideas, and best practices to take back to their communities and companies upon returning home. 

TCR participated in a number of events at this year’s conference to highlight the implementation and future of climate action by U.S. subnationals. We hosted a panel at the America Is All In Action Center, exploring policies and best practices needed to tackle critical challenges such as GHG emissions reduction, equity, and ensuring climate resilience. Subnational leaders including, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Maryland Secretary of the Environment, Serena Mcllwain, Climate Policy Advisor to New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Travis Kellerman, and California National Resources Agency Secretary, Wade Crowfoot, discussed how US states can accelerate their initiatives and ambition to further climate goals and best navigate advancing strategic priorities with the federal government. A recording of this impactful conversation can be found here: https://youtu.be/wHjgOOteX9A

We also had the privilege of co-hosting an official side event, “Showcasing Subnational & Private Sector Solutions to Achieve Equity, Efficiency & Clean Energy Goals”, with Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), Georgetown University, and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This event focused on how public and private sector leaders are delivering scalable and equitable solutions to decarbonize buildings, energy, industry, and transport that also realize resilience and health benefits. Strategies discussed included meaningful community engagement, innovative climate finance, smart policy and nature-based solutions. This event featured keynote remarks by Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality for the United States federal government. This was followed up by a conversation, moderated by Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel for USGBC, with Paul Lau, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Jessica Olson, Head of Global Affairs, Americas, Topsoe; Eric Reading, Chief Climate Officer, Abt Global; and Robert Spencer, Senior Director, Sustainable Legacies, AECOM, who each shared their insights on what is driving climate action, where the market is picking up momentum for deploying and implementing climate strategies, and how public-private partnership and community engagement are fueling implementation and climate innovation. Lastly, a second panel, moderated by Amy Holm, Executive Director of The Climate Registry, brought together subnational leaders including Sam Assefa, Director, California Governor’s Office of Land Use and Innovation; Davina Hurt, Chair, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Board Member, California Air Resources Board; Travis County, Texas Commissioner Brigid Shea; and Joe Nguyen, Washington State Senator to discuss how public policy and regulatory decisions help scale climate action, the importance of integrated strategies that prioritize climate action and decarbonization with resilience and public health benefits, and the challenges and opportunities for achieving scalable and equitable decarbonization.

In addition to hosting and co-hosting our own events, TCR participated in several panels focusing on issues including turning net zero commitments into reality, and the importance of supporting international carbon footprint programs built on a foundation of credibility. The panel hosted by Sacramento Municipal Utility District on “Net Zero: Turning Commitments into Reality” included representatives from utilities, businesses, and organizations who shared their stories of transforming their net-zero commitment from vision to reality and the tools and resources that are essential to getting there. The Carbon Footprint International Alliance, of which TCR is a member, hosted an event at the South Korean Pavilion highlighting the importance of measuring, reporting, and verifying carbon footprint inventories and increasing the reliability of third-party verification globally. 

Another highlight of the conference was co-hosting, with Climate Action Reserve, a reception for our delegation. This event included remarks from the Honorable Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor of New Mexico, the Honorable Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, Québec, Melissa Hurtado, California State Senator, Pedro Pizarro, Chief Executive Officer of Edison International, Davina Hurt, Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Board Member of the California Air Resources Board, Joe Nguyen, Washington State Senator, Dr. Thomas Becker, Head of Sustainability and Mobility at BMW, and Travis Kellerman, Senior Climate Policy Advisor for New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. These exceptional climate leaders provided us with words of wisdom and motivation to keep pushing forward to achieve our collective climate goals.

Lastly, we want to express our sincere gratitude to our incredible sponsors for their support and key role in making our presence at COP 29 possible. Thank you to Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Edison International, Abt Global, BMW, Georgetown Climate Center, PG&E, U.S. Climate Alliance, National Grid, and Permacity Foundation.