The UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, Nigar Arpadarai, today announces the launch of Impact Makers, a global campaign dedicated to shining a light on effective climate action, highlighting diverse innovators and their tangible solutions across regions, industries, and communities.

From social entrepreneurs, to community leaders, to startups, Impact Makers will showcase a range of impactful projects that prove that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping people adapt to the realities of climate change is possible and change is already underway at speed and scale.

Up to 50 Impact Makers will be selected on a rolling basis and profiled at Climate Week New York City and COP29 in Azerbaijan, as well as online across a dedicated webpage and exhibition. The campaign will also continue to grow through to COP30, taking place in Brazil in 2025.

Impact Makers aims to foster solidarity and inspire others to innovate and advance solutions across key areas such as energy, transport, industry, land use, ocean and coastal zones, water and human settlements – all focus areas of the Marrakech Partnership, a global network of organisations mobilizing stronger and more ambitious climate action.

Impact Maker nominations will be put forward by a diverse Steering Committee composed of expert international research institutes, climate resilience networks, social impact organizations and communications platforms. Impact Makers will be recommended for their innovation, resourcefulness and communications skills, as well as the impact and scalability of their initiative.

“I urge EU member states to submit their missing national energy and climate plans. To date, we have received only ten final plans (there are 27 countries in the EU). Indeed, we are well beyond the deadline. These plans are needed to translate commitments into action and give confidence to investors,” Simson emphasized.

According to her, the European Union's fossil fuel imports remain excessive.

“Europe needs to rely more on domestically produced clean energy and import less fossil fuels to ensure competitiveness, security of supply, EU energy sovereignty, and economic sustainability,” the Commissioner noted.

Simson believes that the EU is ready to hit the ground running in its quest for climate neutrality, all while keeping its industrial edge sharp as a tack.

“Over the last five years, we have agreed on new and higher targets for renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency. We have reformed energy markets and developed the world's most advanced concepts for a hydrogen economy and methane emission reductions. Following two record years of renewable energy deployment, wind and solar power reached new highs in the first half of 2024, overtaking fossil fuels in our electricity mix for the first time,” Simson stated.

She recalled that during COP28 in Dubai in December, the EU joined the Global Commitment to triple renewable energy capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

“Green investment has reached record levels due to national recovery and resilience plans. By mid-June 2024, 184 billion euros of the 240 billion euros allocated under national recovery and sustainability plans had gone to energy-related reforms and investments,” Simson pointed out.

She added that the EU has done a lot within the mandate to bring down electricity prices from the 2022 peak, but now we need to address the structural issues.

“I believe the main way forward is to increase the rate of renewables deployment further. We are seeing in 2024 that the rate of renewable energy commissioning is not growing as fast as it should. We need another strong push to meet the 2030 targets we have agreed,” Simson continued.

To note, countries have until February 2025 to submit climate action NDCs..

The publication notes that a meeting was held with the EBRD's new Executive Director for Türkiye and South Caucasus, Elisabetta Falcetti.

''During the meeting, we discussed the sustainable development of the financial sector, the Central Bank's strategic plans for sectoral growth, the expansion of the real sector's access to finance, green transition-related initiatives, and the possibilities for EBRD's support in this regard.

Additionally, we exchanged views on the current state and prospects of cooperation between the Central Bank and the EBRD, '' the publication reads.

She made the remark at the International Forum on Sustainable Development and Climate Innovation in Baku.

According to her, emissions from the transport sector could double if the world continues following the current tendency, but this trend must be reversed.

“To promote sustainable mobility, the UN has launched various coalition initiatives with the transport sector, including the largest global coalition such as the 'Action towards Climate-Friendly Transport' (ACT), which focuses on decarbonizing and transitioning all forms of transport to zero emissions," Andreeva explained.

She reminded that in 2023, a UN General Assembly resolution declared the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035), and November 26 was proclaimed as World Sustainable Transport Day.

However, she emphasized that to drastically reduce emissions in the transport sector and shift to a low-carbon scenario, innovative automotive technologies, sustainable biofuels, improved infrastructure, climate-optimized urban planning, financing, and public awareness campaigns are also needed.

Andreeva mentioned that many companies in the transport sector belong to the private sector, which plays a key role in driving climate action.

"Non-state actors, including the private sector, are key partners in the fight against climate change. An increasing number of countries have already committed to reducing their emissions to net zero, and others are joining the race. This is crucial, as widespread and meaningful participation in climate action broadens support for the transformations we desperately need," the official stressed.

She noted that it's critical to prevent the worst effects of climate change and preserve a livable planet by limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees or below.

“A comprehensive approach and collaboration across all sectors and levels of society are needed. We must encourage cross-sector cooperation in combating the climate crisis," the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan pointed out.