The Role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Influencing Climate Change Policy: The Case of PACJA at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan

Abstract

Over 40,000 delegates from all over the world gathered in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan, the transcontinental country bordering Eastern Europe and West Asia for the 29th edition of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP29). Adopted in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Dawson & Spannagle 2008), the Conference of Parties set the limits on the emission of greenhouse gas (GHG) to prevent the dangers of climate change.

195 countries adopted the Parish Agreement in 2015 at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21), committing to undertake more efforts to keep a global temperature rise in this century below 2°C. Over the years, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have recorded tremendous impact and influence over policy decisions in key areas of the economy within nations and transnational structures. The paper examines the realities of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) within the global climate change corridor, and their contributions towards influencing climate change policies at COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan, particularly advocacy efforts, high-level intergovernmental and civic engagement activities to drive policy changes.