A Verra delegation is attending the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) (external), which takes place November 11–22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The following Verra team members will be at COP29:
- Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
- Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
- Erdem Koch, director, media and advocacy
At COP29, negotiators from 198 parties will convene to discuss the possibility of adopting a new climate finance target, strategies for addressing loss and damage due to climate change, and the revision of national climate commitments. A key focus of COP29 will be whether countries can finalize guidance for the implementation of Article 6, including the role of a global carbon market.
Every year, the UNFCCC COP brings together key carbon market stakeholders to discuss how the market can support the international negotiations, but also to more generally discuss recent market developments and an outlook for its future.
Verra staff will speak at a number of events (see below) and look forward to engaging with stakeholders throughout their time in Baku. If you are interested in meeting with Verra during COP29, please email events@verra.org with your availability and the reason you wish to connect.
We will also welcome stakeholders at the Verra exhibit booth in the Blue Zone (Booth 36) on Wednesday, November 20, and Thursday, November 21. Please note that official UNFCCC accreditation is required to access the Blue Zone.
Verra-Hosted Side Event
Please see below for information about an event that Verra is hosting at COP29.
Please note that official UNFCCC accreditation is necessary for entry to the Blue Zone.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14
Date: Thursday, November 14, 4:45–6:15 pm AZT
Location: Side Event Room 7 (Blue Zone)
Host: Verra, Singapore
Verra staff: Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
Singapore, Verra, and Gold Standard are launching the Article 6 Crediting Protocol. This will provide guidance for how governments can build on independent crediting programmes to implement cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and drive greater private sector investment.
VERRA STAFF – SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Please see below for a list of speaking engagements for Verra staff at COP29. This list will be continually updated.
Please note that official UNFCCC accreditation is necessary for entry to the Blue Zone.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Date: Monday, November 11, 5:15–6:15 pm AZT
Location: SEforALL’s SDG7 Global South Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) in collaboration with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia)
Verra staff: Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
The executive dialogue session will focus on crucial issues for the future of the voluntary carbon market, including scaling the supply of high-integrity carbon credits in the Global South and attracting more private capital and solutions to unlock greater carbon market opportunities and co-benefits.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 10:10–11:55 am AZT
Location: JW Marriott Absheron Hotel, Baku
Host: Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company (RVCMC)
Verra staff: Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
This closed-door panel discussion on the role and integrity of carbon markets in achieving net zero takes place during the launch event for RVCMC’s voluntary carbon credit exchange platform.
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 3:00–4:15 pm AZT
Location: Singapore Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: GenZero
Verra staff: Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
The breakdown of negotiations at COP28 over Article 6 guidance left many eager to see progress. Can COP29 reverse the tide? Where did COP28 leave us, and has there been significant progress on Article 6 since then? How can Article 6 co-exist with, or even strengthen, the voluntary carbon market?
This panel aims to equip stakeholders with insights to move beyond the COP28 impasse and discuss the way forward for Article 6.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 9:30–11:00 am AZT
Location: QAZAQSTAN Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: Astana International Financial Centre Authority (AIFC)
Verra staff: Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
The session will outline the main approaches of AIFC’s carbon platform, as well as the current development of carbon credits and renewable energy certificates issuance and trading in Central Asia. Panelists will share their perspectives on the development of environmental instruments and the potential for expanding AIFC’s carbon platform to Central Asia and other regions.
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 11:00 am–12:30 pm AZT
Location: Food and Agriculture Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), CGIAR
Verra staff: Carolina Lisboa, manager, agriculture innovation (speaking remotely)
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 3:00–4:30 pm AZT
Location: Pavilion F03, GCC Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Verra staff: Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
This session will explore how the voluntary carbon market, with its emphasis on high-integrity mitigation contribution units, can help corporates contribute to greening their supply chains and downstream value chains via result-based financing while meeting the Nationally Determined Contribution targets of host countries, promoting impactful investment and an early transition to a low-carbon future.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14
Date: Thursday, November 14, 9:30–10:30 am AZT
Location: IETA Business Hub (Blue Zone)
Host: Carbon Finance Labs
Verra staff: Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
Verra has released its carbon capture and storage (CCS) methodology framework and the first three modules, which enable the quantification of carbon dioxide removals resulting from direct air capture (DAC) projects. The methodology and modules were developed by Verra and the CCS+ Initiative. The CCS+ Initiative is planning to release many more modules in the coming year to firm up the modular “plug-and-play” approach for CCS project activities. Join this panel discussion to learn more about the work and goals of CCS+ Initiative!
Virtual attendees may watch via Zoom (external).
Date: Thursday, November 14, 1:00–1:45 pm AZT
Location: Hub Culture Baku SkyHub Cop29, 22nd Floor, the Landmark Tower
Host: Hedera
Verra staff: Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
This session is part of the Hedera Regenerative Finance Forum, which runs from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The forum focuses on building solutions to bring the balance sheet of the planet to the public ledger.
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2:00–3:15 pm AZT
Location: Japan Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: JAXA
Verra staff: Andrew Copenhaver, manager, forest carbon data innovation (speaking remotely)
In recent years, there has been a growing number of carbon credit exchanges, along with an increase in transaction volumes. The Tokyo Stock Exchange launched a carbon credit market in 2023. The use of remote sensing data can help address challenges such as ensuring the reliability of sequestration and reduction calculations, as well as reducing verification costs. This discussion will focus on how Earth observation satellite data can enhance transparency and reliability in the carbon credit market.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Date: Friday, November 15, 2:55–3:40 pm AZT
Location: Brazilian Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: NBS Brazil Alliance and Carbonext
Verra staff: Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
The panel will bring together representatives from the government, private sector, and third sector to discuss how public-private collaboration can drive carbon markets and provide effective solutions for the climate crisis. The event will address the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in strengthening both regulated and voluntary carbon markets, expanding financing opportunities, and enabling projects for emissions reduction and removal. It will also explore how these partnerships can attract new investments, expand decarbonization initiatives, and strengthen Brazil’s leadership in global climate solutions.
Date: Friday, November 15, 3:00–4:00 pm AZT
Location: Angola Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: KAYA
Verra staff: Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
This session will cover Angola’s journey to net zero, and how the voluntary carbon market and other market mechanisms can help facilitate it.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Date: Saturday, November 16, 12:50–1:20 pm AZT
Location: Korea Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: Korea Forestry Promotion Institute, Korea Forest Service, Kookmin University
Verra staff: Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
This panel discussion is part of a longer side event that runs from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm AZT. Following opening remarks and a series of presentations, this session will provide an overview of carbon market development, including key achievements and challenges. By sharing important perspectives on global carbon markets with other global organizations, this session aims to vitalize Korea’s carbon market and expand cooperation with the global markets in order to contribute to increasing carbon sinks in Korean forests.
Date: Saturday, November 16, 1:00–2:30 pm AZT
Location: IETA Pavilion H6 (Blue Zone)
Host: IETA/ICROA
Verra staff: Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
Clean energy access is a key element in navigating the transition to net-zero pathways aligned with the Paris Agreement. Cookstoves projects have the potential to accelerate this process promoting sustainable development. This side event will gather demand and supply stakeholders to build the case for clean cookstoves including mitigation potential, access to energy for all, methodologies in progress, avoidance of deforestation, and social, economic, and environmental co-benefits as well as key challenges and opportunities to scale the market in line with the Paris Agreement.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Date: Monday, November 18, 2:00–3:00 pm AZT
Location: Namibia Pavilion (Blue Zone)
Host: Climate Balanced
Verra staff: Mandy Rambharos, chief executive officer
The voluntary carbon market (VCM) is undergoing a significant transformation, often referred to as VCM 2.0, aimed at addressing the challenges and leveraging the opportunities presented by the evolving landscape of global climate policy. This evolution is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness, transparency, and scalability of voluntary carbon markets, ensuring they can meet the growing demand for high-quality carbon credits. This side event will explore these transformative changes, focusing on innovations in standards, technology integration, and governance. By examining the lessons learned from earlier phases of the VCM and discussing the latest developments, the critical role of voluntary markets in achieving global climate goals and fostering sustainable development will be highlighted.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Date: Tuesday, November 19, 12:00–1:00 pm AZT
Location: IETA BusinessHub Side Event Room (Blue Zone)
Virtual Access: Join the panel virtually
Host: Value Network Ventures (VNV)
Verra staff: Andrew Howard, chief strategy and policy officer
This panel discussion will address the importance of well-structured policies in catalyzing carbon market growth and unlocking foreign investments through Government participation in international carbon markets, providing opportunities often limited in domestic markets. The discussion will explore how national policy development can support a country’s mitigation strategies beyond Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), fostering long-lasting and inclusive climate strategies that contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nexus.