Buying green: How public procurement can shape a sustainable future

14:00 - 15:00 | COP29 Blue Zone – Danish Pavilion

Co-hosted by UNOPS and the government of Denmark

This panel discussion will highlight the significant impact sustainable procurement can have on climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, while also fostering local economic development. By sharing insights and examples from around the globe, including Denmark's leading practices, the session will explore how sustainable procurement can be a powerful tool for governments, suppliers and the private sector to collaborate effectively on reducing their climate footprint.

The discussion will feature successful initiatives including UNOPS Possibilities Forum and Delivering Responsibility in Vendor Engagement (DRiVE) program, demonstrating how capacity-building and sustainable procurement programmes have enhanced the ability of public and private sectors to conduct business in a more sustainable way.

• UNOPS Deputy Executive Director – Delivery and Partnerships, Kirstine Damkjaer, will participate in the session.

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Closing the gap: Innovative finance for global sustainability

14:30 - 15:10 | Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard

This event is part of the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2024, hosted inside the Climate Action Innovation Zone at COP29.

• UNOPS Deputy Executive Director – Delivery and Partnerships, Kirstine Damkjaer, will join the panel discussion.

Read more

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How to strengthen infrastructure for a climate-resilient future

15:15 - 17:30 | Radisson Hotel Baku

Co-hosted by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT)

• UNOPS Head of Strategic Initiatives – Infrastructure and Project Management, Samantha Stratton-Short, will participate in the session.

From promise to progress: Tackling the climate implementation gap
10:10 - 10:30 | Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard

This event is part of the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2024, hosted inside the Climate Action Innovation Zone at COP29.

This high-level session will focus on the critical importance of closing the implementation gap to achieve global climate and development goals, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected areas. Discussions will highlight the role of partnerships and innovation, and provide actionable insights on how to improve future initiatives.

Moderator:

• UNOPS Director of Global Portfolios Office and Director of Partnerships, Émilie Potvin, will moderate the session.

Speakers:

• UNOPS Executive Director, Jorge Moreira Da Silva

• Yemen Minister of Water and Environment, Eng. Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi

Speakers will participate in a fireside chat, as well as an interactive Q&A with audience members.

Read more

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Resilient shores: Long-term investment for safeguarding Kiribati's coastlines in the face of climate change

10:00-10:50 | Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion

Hosted by the government of Kiribati

This event will explore the programmatic approaches by low lying atoll nations to attract climate financing for safeguarding coastlines and strengthening their community resilience.

The session will highlight ongoing efforts to protect Kiribati's coastlines. It will explore the role of nature-based and resilient infrastructure solutions, and discuss how local communities are actively engaged in shaping their climate adaptation strategies.

• UNOPS Senior Advisor in the Asia Pacific, Simonetta Siligato, will join the panel discussion.

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From commitments to action: Mobilizing climate finance for effective implementation

15:00 - 16:30 | Zone B of the Blue Zone, Side Event Room 8

Co-hosted by UNOPS and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre

This event will explore the critical aspects of climate finance, with a focus on ensuring accessible climate finance; empowering country-driven solutions; and strengthening platforms for collaboration.

• UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moriera da Silva will participate in a fireside chat with Dr. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi and Pan African Climate justice champion, followed by a panel discussion and an interactive Q&A with audience members.

Energizing healthcare: Accelerating universal quality healthcare through policy, planning, procurement and performance

9:00 - 10:00 | (Blue Zone) World Health Organization Pavilion (B3)

Co-hosted by UNOPS, WHO and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)

Climate change is negatively impacting health in many ways –- including through air pollution, infectious and vector borne diseases, extreme weather events that displace communities and destroy public health infrastructure, among others. Estimates show that close to 1 billion people in low- and lower-middle-income countries are served by health-care facilities without reliable electricity access or with no electricity access at all.

This session will explore real-world examples and best practices to accelerate electrification for healthcare through policy, planning, procurement and long-term performance.

• UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moriera da Silva will provide a keynote address at the session.

Promoting low-carbon energy transition and accelerating global action

10:00 - 11:30 | Venue TBC

Co-hosted by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), the UNFCCC Secretariat and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

• UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moriera da Silva will join the session as a panelist.

Closing the time gap: Accelerating AI for environmental permitting in green energy projects

15:15 - 16:00 | (BLue Zone) Danish Pavilion (H8)

Co-hosted by the government of Denmark and cBrain

• UNOPS Director of the Global Portfolio Office and Director of Partnerships, Émilie Potvin, will join the session as a speaker.

From Southeast Asia to Africa: A Pathway for Energy Transition

16:00 - 17:00 | (Blue Zone) SDG7 Global South Pavilion (G12a)

Hosted by Sustainable Energy For all (SEforALL) and UNOPS

[Closed-door event]

This high-level roundtable discussion will convene key philanthropists, donors and energy leaders to draw lessons from the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) and explore how a similar initiative could be implemented to accelerate Africa’s energy transition. The session aims to contribute towards efforts to shape the future of energy in Africa and chart a course from strategy to action.

• UNOPS Deputy Executive Director – Delivery and Partnerships, Kirstine Damkjaer, will provide opening remarks.

Climate change and Tuberculosis (TB) response: Science and technology make TB go green

Session 1: 9:30 - 10:30 | (Blue Zone) SDG7 Global South Pavilion (G12a)

Hosted by Stop TB Partnership (hosted by UNOPS) and the Azerbaijan Ministry of Health

Session 2: 11:00 - 12:00 | (Green Zone) Azerbaijan NGO Forum Pavilion (A02)

Hosted by Stop TB Partnership (hosted by UNOPS) and the Azerbaijan Ministry of Health.

The sessions will explore the impact of climate change on TB. It will share experiences on the use of new science and technology in TB Response, and will discuss the financing needed for scaling up innovations in TB response.

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Climate Action Roadmaps for Buildings and Construction: On the path for a low carbon and resilient built environment

10:00 - 11:30 | (Blue Zone) COP29 Buildings and Cooling Pavilion

Hosted by Global ABC Partnership – UNEP

The buildings and construction sector accounts for a staggering 37 per cent of global energy and process-related carbon dioxide emissions, making it the second largest emitting sector after electricity generation. This sector is also responsible for significant global material consumption and waste generation, further exacerbating environmental pressures.

This session will address the importance of bringing all stakeholders together to identify pathways and set targets to decarbonize the sector – showcasing the tools to do so, such as the new step-by-step guide to develop Climate Action Roadmaps for Buildings and Construction.

UNOPS Head of Strategic Initiatives – Infrastructure and Project Management, Samantha Stratton-Short, will launch the new methodology for developing roadmaps during this session. Read more.

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Climate resilience, peace and security: Integrated solutions to bridge the implementation gap

11:00 - 12:00 | (Blue Zone) NDC Partnership Pavilion (A9)

Co-hosted by UNOPS, the Federal Republic of Somalia and adelphi

Watch the Live stream of this event here.

Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities – driving instability, displacement and competition for resources. This can fuel conflict and undermine peace. Conflict, in turn, impedes progress toward the Paris Agreement, with fragile and conflict-affected countries often lacking the institutional capacity and resources needed to implement climate policies and strategies, including their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This high-level event will highlight the challenges and opportunities of an integrated approach to climate and conflict in vulnerable and fragile settings. It will identify areas for practical cooperation and partnerships to strengthen climate resilience and support peace and security.

Moderator:
Janani Vivekananda, Head of Programme Climate Diplomacy and Security, adelphi

Keynote Speaker:
H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia

Panelists:

• H.E. Ole Thonke, Under-Secretary for Development Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
• Christina Wegelein, Head of the Climate Security Division, the German Federal Foreign Office
• Andrew Harper, Special Advisor on Climate Action to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR (TBC)
• Émilie Potvin, UNOPS Director of the Global Portfolio Office and Director of Partnerships
• Nisreen Elsaim, Former Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change

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Building climate-resilient infrastructure in the Pacific

13:45 - 14:45 | Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Pavillion (G14b)

Hosted by UNOPS

This session will explore how a partnership between UNOPS, CDRI and the Republic of the Marshall Islands is pioneering innovative strategies to protect critical health and coastal infrastructure.

Focusing on cross-sector collaboration, inclusive planning and data-driven insights, the discussion will inspire scalable solutions for Small Island Developing States and other climate-vulnerable regions by sharing common visions, barriers and opportunities.

• UNOPS Head of Nairobi Liaison Office (a.i.) and Partnerships Specialist, Kajsa Hartman, will moderate the session.

• UNOPS Senior Advisor in the Asia Pacific, Simonetta Siligato will participate in the panel discussions.

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Building climate-resilient infrastructure in the Pacific

13:45 - 14:45 | Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Pavillion (G14b)

Hosted by UNOPS

This session will explore how a partnership between UNOPS, CDRI and the Republic of the Marshall Islands is pioneering innovative strategies to protect critical health and coastal infrastructure.

Focusing on cross-sector collaboration, inclusive planning and data-driven insights, the discussion will inspire scalable solutions for Small Island Developing States and other climate-vulnerable regions by sharing common visions, barriers and opportunities.

• UNOPS Head of Nairobi Liaison Office (a.i.) and Partnerships Specialist, Kajsa Hartman, will moderate the session.

• UNOPS Senior Advisor in the Asia Pacific, Simonetta Siligato will participate in the panel discussions.

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Mainstreaming systematic climate action in energy infrastructure to support SDGs

14:30 - 15:45 | (Blue Zone) SDG7 Global South Pavilion (G12a)

Co-hosted by UNOPS, SEforALL and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

The energy sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 37 per cent of global emissions, and plays a critical role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there is currently no systematic approach for planners and practitioners to integrate climate considerations throughout the entire lifecycle of energy infrastructure projects.

This session will feature climate and renewable energy experts from UNOPS, industry and academia, who will discuss opportunities to systematically integrate climate mitigation and adaptation actions into energy project development life cycle stages.

Moderator:

Samantha Stratton-Short, UNOPS Head of Strategic Initiatives – Infrastructure and Project Management

Presenter:

Dr. Daniel Adshead, Researcher, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

Panelists:

• Daniel Adshead, Researcher, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

• Noelle O’Brien, Director Climate Change, Asian Development Bank

• Eng. Stephen Nzioka, Senior Director Renewable Energy, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Kenya

• Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman Presidential Climate Change Initiatives, Sierra Leone

Global Framework for Action: Harnessing sustainable and circular public procurement to drive demand for near-zero emissions and resilient buildings

16:00 – 17:30 | COP29 Buildings Pavilion (Virtual session)

Hosted by One Planet Network and UNEP

Read more and watch the Live stream of this event here.

This high-level virtual session will bring together diverse stakeholders to explore the use of public procurement as an instrument for better planning and designing sustainable, circular, near-zero and resilient public buildings. The panel discussion will include sharing experiences and a call for international cooperation to support a Global Framework for Action.

• UNOPS Director of Procurement, Anne-Claire Howard, will provide opening remarks.

• UNOPS will launch the National Circularity Assessment Framework for Buildings as part of this event. Read more.

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Cities for Her: Gender-Inclusive Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystems (WEFE) Climate Solutions

9:30 - 10:30 | SDG7 Global South Pavilion (G12a)

Hosted by Cities Alliance (hosted by UNOPS)

• Cities Alliance Senior Climate Advisor, Julie Greenwalt, will participate in the session.

Urban water security in a changing climate: Innovative approaches for resilient cities

14:00 - 15:00 | Danish Pavilion 

Hosted by State of Green in collaboration with Our Future Water 

This panel will explore the critical role of water security in urban resilience against climate challenges. Featuring experts from policy, industry, and academia, the session will showcase how innovative strategies—like digital tools, adaptive governance, and integrated urban planning—can enhance water management and support cities in managing water-related risks. Participants will gain insights into successful models and practical solutions that advance urban water security in the face of climate change.

• UNOPS Head of Strategic Initiatives – Infrastructure and Project Management, Samantha Stratton-Short, will participate in the session.

UNOPS Climathon 2024

Full day | UN City Copenhagen, Denmark 

Hosted by UNOPS 

As part of our broader COP29 events programme, UNOPS is hosting a dynamic climate-focused problem-solving event at UN City, Copenhagen.  

The event will bring together local university students from diverse academic backgrounds, alongside UNOPS experts, to tackle a real-world climate challenge related to a UNOPS project. The event will focus on developing practical, actionable solutions to inspire future climate leaders, foster innovation and empower youth to take a leading role in driving sustainable change.