edie Extra podcast: Your COP29 preview with BCG’s Edmond Rhys-Jones

edie Extra is our new podcast channel, providing a home for our exclusive special audio features beyond our long-running monthly series, Sustainability Uncovered.

As more voices, businesses and initiatives join the conversation on environmental sustainability and tackling the climate crisis, edie Extra cuts through the noise.

In our new episode, our content editor Sarah George sits down with Edmond Rhys-Jones to look ahead to COP29, which begins next week in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Rhys-Jones pert partner in BCG’s Climate and Sustainability Practice, co-lead for BCG’s Center for Sustainability Policy & Regulation, and Global Lead for Climate COPs. He is also a former UK diplomat having been posted in the USA and Middle East. Ed has supported three prior COP presidencies – the UK (2021), Egypt (2022) and the UAE (2023).

Rhys-Jones explains that, while fewer people will be at the COP this year, it is still important as a moment for “ratcheting up” ambition and securing new climate finance agreements.

Setting a new finance goal will be “a challenge” as arguments will doubtless ensue about the overall number, who should contribute what, which nations should receive and which issues should receive priority financing.

But, Rhys-Jones explains, with Paris Agreement plans detailing less than 3% of the finance needed:“It’s not simply about writing cheques… there are a whole raft of things needing to be done around finance, particularly mobilizing private sector funding.”

He goes on to give his advice on how businesses with representation in Baku can get the most out of their attendance, and how those choosing to follow remotely can better embed considerations of the COP process into their sustainability strategizing.

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As well as SustyTalks, edie Extra is the home for our live panel discussions from edie events, providing debates on hot topics like carbon offsetting, sustainability reporting mandates and the just transition to a low-carbon future.

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