The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) finished on 22 November 2024 and its participation surpassed expectations reaching over 65,000 persons. The Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) participated for the 3rd year in COP – UN Climate Change Conference. In COP29 EMEA was a partner of the Mediterranean Pavilion in the Blue Zone of COP29.
For the 1st week of EMEA activities on COP 29 please visit: EMEA at COP29 Baku – 1st week
On the 2nd week of COP29 EMEA organised and participated in hybrid events in connection with the Mediterranean and other COP29 Pavilions
EMEA at COP29 – 18.11.24
On 18 November 2024 EMEA President Prof. Rym Ayadi participated in the COP29 side event “Data for 21st century governance”. The event was organised thew the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub in collaboration with the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and the Net-Zero Compatible Innovations Initiative. The session discussed on how to deliver the innovations needed (economic, cultural, structural, technical, etc.) for a flourishing future.
The event was moderated by Dennis Pamlin, Executive Director, NCI /Senior Advisor, RISE, and the panel included Massamba Thioye, Project Executive, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub, Dr. Riyong Kim, Head of Sustainability Transitions (STR), the European Environment Agency, Ruth Reichstein. Advisory Board to the President, New European Bauhaus European Commission, Mariell Juhlin, Head of programmes, SustainGov, Adam Bly, Founder and CEO, System and Ganesh Das, Chief – Collaboration & Innovation, TATA Power.
In her intervention Prof. Ayadi underlined “Governance frameworks for the 21st century must embrace holistic, data-driven approaches to tackle systemic challenges. Integrating nature and brain capital dashboards into ESG strategies offers a unique opportunity to align economic growth with sustainability and resilience. By leveraging these innovative tools, investors and policymakers can drive transformative change, fostering a future that values both human potential and environmental stewardship.”
The video of the event “Data for 21st century governance” is available at this link
Based on her intervention in the event, EMEA published Prof. Ayadi’s article “Data for the 21st Century Governance: Integrating Nature and Brain Capital Dashboards in ESG Investment Strategies”.
EMEA at COP29 – 19.11.24
One 19 November 2024 EMEA organised the COP29 side event “Financing Agroforestry: Exploring Diverse Financing Schemes for Sustainable Land Use”. The event explored various financing schemes, highlighted successful case studies, and fostered dialogue on how to accelerate investment in agroforestry systems globally.
The event was moderated by Dr. Yeganeh Forouheshfar, EMEA Senior Researcher and the panel included Gerry Lawson, Policy Officer at EURAF, Andrea Casadesús Cabral, Researcher BETA Technological Center, Martin Lukac, Professor, The Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Coordinator of the ReForest project, Enrique Doblas Miranda, Ecology researcher, transfer officer, consultant at CREAF, Tiago Fioravanti Zibecchi, EMEA Researcher, Marek Chalupnik, Co-Founder & COO at DeepRoots, and Hafsa EL Bekri, PhD, HDR, Advocacy and Executive Strategy Senior Associate, Positive Agenda Advisory.
Dr. Forouheshfar highlighted “Agroforestry is a pioneering regenerative solution that requires long-term investment to unlock its full potential. With bold outcomes from COP29 negotiations, we can secure the financial support needed to advance agroforestry practices in view of carbon-neutral farming and sustainable land use.”
From his side EMEA Researcher Tiago Fioravanti Zibecchi underlined “Agroforestry’s co-benefits are widely documented in literature, ranging from positive externalities such as carbon capture, biodiversity enhancement, soil improvement, water retention, and better animal welfare conditions to socio-economic ones like food security, crop resilience, and rural job creation. One big challenge that remains is to develop innovative financing schemes capable of integrating these benefits into market value and creating blended mechanisms to de-risk their investments.”
The video of the event “Financing Agroforestry: Exploring Diverse Financing Schemes for Sustainable Land Use” is available at this link
Furthermore, on 19 November 2024, EMEA Advisor, Harris Eyre MD PhD, Lead and Senior Fellow for Neuro-Policy, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy & Executive Director of the Brain Capital Alliance, participated in the COP29 side event “Launching the flourishing lives on a flourishing planet 4 all (FLP4all) initiative”.
The event was organised the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub in collaboration with the RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and the Net-Zero Compatible Innovations Initiative. The session discussed how to move beyond reduction of problems to positive impact and flourishing lives for all in the post SDG agenda.
Dr. Eyre underlined “As we launch the ‘Flourishing Lives on a Flourishing Planet for All’ (FLP4all) initiative, we recognize the profound impact of the brain economy, also known as the brain-positive economic transformation. By prioritizing brain health and brain skills, we can drive innovation, productivity, and resilience across all sectors. This holistic approach not only enhances individual lives but also fosters sustainable development, ensuring that our planet and its people thrive together.”
The event was moderated by Dennis Pamlin, Executive Director, NCI /Senior Advisor, RISE, and the panel included Massamba Thioye, Project Executive, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub, Charlie Wilson, Professor of Energy and Climate Change, Oxford University, Anders Wijkman Co-president, Club of Rome, Ganesh Das, Chief – Collaboration & Innovation, TATA Power, Pourya Salehi, Head of Urban Research, Innovation, and Development Team, ICLEI, and David Ekelund Co-founder and co-CEO, Icebug.
EMEA at COP29 – 20.11.24
On 20 November 2024 EMEA organised the COP29 side event “Accelerating the Green Transition: Balancing Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies”. This event explored how countries, businesses, and financial institutions can integrate both mitigation and adaptation approaches to create a balanced, comprehensive strategy for the green transition.
The event was moderated by EMEA President Prof. Rym Ayadi and the panel included Beatrice Moro, Senior Policy Advisor, ECCO think tank, Prof. Giovanni Ferri, Professor of Economics, LUMSA University, EMEA Advisor, • Kwame Sarpong Barnieh CPA,CGMA, Partner, Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance Services, KPMG Ghana, Member of EMEA Executive Board, Ali Rhouma, PRIMA Foundation, Dr. Lawrence Jones, Senior Vice President, International Programs, Edison Electric Institute (EEI).
Closing the event Prof. Rym Ayadi highlighted: “As we navigate the defining decade for climate action, the negotiations on the new collective quantified goal represent a unique opportunity to reset our ambitions and align global climate finance with the urgent needs of both mitigation and adaptation. Achieving a balanced green transition demands innovation, inclusivity, and unprecedented cooperation to ensure that no country or community is left behind.”
The video of the event “Accelerating the Green Transition: Balancing Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies” is available at this link
Also on 20 November 2024, ΕΜΕΑ Senior Researcher Dr. Yeganeh Forouheshfar participated in the panel of the COP29 side event “Navigating Climate Challenges: A Collective Approach for the Mediterranean region at COP29” which took place in the Mediterranean Pavilion. The session explored the Mediterranean region’s climate and energy related challenges and discussed the agenda of priorities across key climate policy areas on regional adaptation, finance and energy. The event was hosted by the Med Alliance of Think Tanks on Climate Change (MATTCCh) and co-organised by ECCO think tank and the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development.
In her intervention Dr. Yeganeh Forouheshfar highlighted: “The Mediterranean region faces significant barriers to investing in climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as accessing climate finance. These challenges include high debt levels, fragmented financial ecosystems, limited private sector involvement, and instability. To overcome them, we must prioritize innovative financial mechanisms and foster stronger regional collaboration. COP29 presents a pivotal opportunity for the region to leverage carbon markets and advance the energy transition and climate adaptation efforts.”
The event was moderated by Giulia Giordano, Director of Mediterranean and Global Strategy, ECCO think tank and the panel included Grammenos Mastrojeni, Senior Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Bengisu Özenç, Founding Director, Sefia, Alicia Pérez-Porro, PhD, Head of Policy Engagement & Institutional Relations, CREAF, Iskander Erzini Vernoit, Co-Founder and Director, Imal Initiative for Climate and Development.
EMEA at COP29 – 21.11.24
On 21 November 2024 EMEA organised the COP29 side event “Linking Brain Capital and Natural Capital: Paving the Path for a Brain- and Nature-Positive Economy”. The event explored the intersection between brain capital and nature capital and how their integration can support a resilient, brain- and nature-positive economy. It was organised by the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association – EMEA and the Brain Capital Alliance.
The event was moderated by EMEA President Prof. Rym Ayadi and the panel included Shiva Dustdar, Dean of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Institute, Harris Eyre MD PhD, Lead and Senior Fellow, Neuro-Policy, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, Executive Director, Brain Capital Alliance, EMEA Advisor, Julie Hiromoto, FAIA, Partner and Director of Integration at HKS, Inc., Burcin Ikiz, PhD, Lead, EcoNeuro, Grammenos Mastrojeni, Senior Deputy Secretary General, Union for the Mediterranean, Kana Enomoto, Director of Brain Health, McKinsey Health Institute.
Prof. Rym Ayadi highlighted: “By uniting brain capital and natural capital, we unlock the potential for a truly sustainable and regenerative future—one where the health of our minds and the resilience of our planet drive innovation, equity, and prosperity for generations to come.”
The video of the event “Linking Brain Capital and Natural Capital: Paving the Path for a Brain- and Nature-Positive Economy” is available at this link
Finally, on 21 November 2024, EMEA President Prof. Rym Ayadi participated in the COP29 side event “Nature Based Solutions for health: Implementing a One Health approach between Conservation and health”. The event was organised by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in collaboration with the World Health Organization.
In her intervention Prof. Ayadi underlined: “We did not create nature; it created the conditions for our existence. We are not separate from it but part of its intricate web. To destroy nature is to destroy ourselves; to protect it is to safeguard our health, survival, and future”.
The event was moderated by Charles Karangwa, IUCN and the panel included Stewart Maginnis, IUCN, Cristina Romanelli, World Health Organization, Ali Raza, IUCN, Lai Ling Lee Rodriguez, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and Angela Andrade, IUCN.
The video of the event is available at this link – Day 8
Based on her intervention in the event, EMEA published Prof. Ayadi’s article “Strengthening the Links Between Human Health and Ecosystem Health Through Science”.
See you all in COP30 Brasil!
