The delegation of the “Lake Baikal” Foundation actively participated in the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which took place from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
On the first day of the main climate event of the year, the Foundation’s General Director, Anastasia Tsvetkova, spoke at the opening session of the Russian pavilion titled “Unified Dialogue for a ‘Green World’: Science, Experts, Business, Civil Society.” This session focused on discussing issues of solidarity, cooperation, overcoming contradictions, and the inclusiveness of the climate and environmental agenda as well as the 2030 Agenda as a whole. In her speech, Anastasia Tsvetkova discussed the international agenda in the work of the “Lake Baikal” Foundation, particularly its participation in the activities of the World Water Council, the UN Environment Programme, and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). She also highlighted the Foundation’s accreditation as an observer at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the invitation for the Foundation to become a partner of the Water Pavilion at COP 29. Furthermore, Anastasia Tsvetkova talked about the Foundation’s initiative to amplify the youth voice in water resource conservation – the Youth Water Council and its proactive participation in the Children’s and Youth Pavilion at the conference.
At the panel session “The Role of the Non-Governmental Sector in Addressing Climate Change Adaptation Challenges” which also took place on the first day in the Russian pavilion, Anastasia Tsvetkova presented a report titled “Sustainable Reforestation Practices at Baikal as a Measure of Adaptation to Climate Change.” She shared how non-governmental organizations can play a crucial role in piloting and scaling climate adaptation practices by uniting the efforts of businesses and the expert community, while assisting the government in addressing strategic climate issues. The Foundation’s practices in conserving the forests of the Baikal region and integrating artificial intelligence for eco-monitoring Lake Baikal and assessing the impact of climate change on its ecosystem have already been repeatedly included in official statements and reports from Russia at the level of relevant ministries. In her speech, Anastasia Tsvetkova provided more details on the Foundation’s practical experience in this area.
On November 12, the second day of the conference, the Foundation’s Senior Project Manager, Alexandra Tulusoeva, spoke at the Opening Ceremony of the Water Pavilion Water4Climate, presenting the key messages of the working group “Nature, Biodiversity, Ecosystems,” in which the Foundation was involved in preparing for COP 29, as well as the pavilion’s program for the second week of the conference. In her address, Alexandra emphasized the importance of continuity between the recently held UN Biodiversity Conference in Colombia and the climate conference that began in Baku, the role of nature-based solutions in combating climate change, and the interconnectedness of water, climate, and biodiversity conservation. The Foundation was also presented at the ceremony as a new partner for this year.
On November 13, the “Lake Baikal” Foundation showcased its projects at the expert session of the CIS Business Center titled “Water for All: Prospects for Attracting Private Investments to Fund the Water Economy Under Climate Change,” represented by Anastasia Tsvetkova, the head of the organization. During the session, experts discussed how to establish a system of responsible water usage and long-term financing for the water economy with resources from businesses, banks, and capital markets. Anastasia Tsvetkova spoke about the attention to the topic of water ecosystem conservation at COP28 and COP29, the Freshwater Challenge initiative, and the Water Declaration for Climate Change, which was signed at the event in Baku. She also addressed the issues concerning water non-profit organizations worldwide, noting their focus on supporting local communities to ensure access to clean water and sanitation. Among the Foundation’s activities is grant support for regional NGOs and small businesses in implementing sustainable management practices and water conservation. Anastasia also discussed the scientific context of the Foundation’s work and its contribution to engaging youth in the water sector.
On November 16, Alexandra Tulusoeva, Senior Project Manager of the Foundation, moderated the session “Youth in Climate Science” with the Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Diana Urge-Vorsatz. During the discussion, they were able to address the findings of the Sixth Assessment Report by the IPCC, how the IPCC engages with youth, and why it is important to involve young professionals in climate science.
On November 19, the “Lake Baikal” Foundation held a session titled “Water-energy nexus: youth perspective” in the Pavilion of Children and Youth. Deputy General Director Olga Amelkina moderated the session, which also included participation from the Youth Water Council (YWC) and the BRICS Youth Energy Agency (BRICS YEA). The session focused on the topic of water resources, energy, and their interconnections within the context of the climate agenda. Young leaders from the YWC and BRICS YEA discussed the relationship between water, energy, and climate, assessed the role of youth, and presented their organizations’ activities along with the following documents: the YWC position for COP29 and the BRICS YEA 2024 Outlook.
On November 20, the “Lake Baikal” Foundation participated in a session by the Federal Water Resources Agency as part of Water Day in the Russian pavilion. In the session titled “Water for Cooperation: Sharing Experience, Challenges, and Prospects,” representatives from various organizations discussed the hydrological consequences of climate change and adaptation strategies, the importance of conserving water bodies to mitigate the effects of climate change, prospects for growth and development of the blue economy, the implementation of low-carbon water purification technologies, issues related to the conservation of the Caspian Sea, and engaging youth in the water agenda. Olga Amelkina, Deputy General Director of the Foundation, spoke about the water direction in the organization’s project map – from monitoring and cleaning projects for Baikal to the establishment of a Youth Water Council and practical results achieved through them.
Members of the “Lake Baikal” Foundation delegation participated in the event both as part of the Russian Federation delegation and under accreditation as observers in the negotiations. As a result of their participation, new agreements were reached regarding the cooperation in implementing climate initiatives with Russian companies, non-governmental organizations, and international partners. Additionally, the Foundation’s staff is preparing an analytical review of the water agenda for COP 29, which will be published soon.