Since 1995, countries have met almost every year at these UN climate summits (COPs) to tackle climate change. The Paris Agreement in 2015 was a milestone - for the first time, all countries agreed to limit warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C.

COP29 in Baku is a crucial moment in this journey. Coming after the first major review of progress (called the Global Stocktake) at COP28 in Dubai, and before countries must submit stronger climate plans in 2025, it's where the world needs to agree on how to fund the massive changes needed.

How science guides global climate action

The IPCC - thousands of scientists worldwide - collects evidence and runs sophisticated computer models to understand what's happening to our planet. Their research guides both how much Climate Finance is needed and where Loss and Damage support will likely be required most.

The science behind climate decisions

Scientists are clear: we must keep global warming under 1.5°C to avoid the worst impacts. Modern computer models help us understand exactly what this means. When Hurricane Milton hit Florida in October 2024, causing $180 billion in damages, scientists could show that climate change was responsible for almost half that damage - exactly the kind of impact the Loss and Damage Fund is designed to address. Meanwhile, Climate Finance helps prevent future disasters and protect vulnerable communities before they're hit.

The two key funding streams

Countries at COP29 are focusing on two crucial funding systems:

Climate Finance helps countries:

• Cut emissions (Mitigation) - like Morocco's massive solar farm now powering 2 million homes
• Protect people (Adaptation) - like Bangladesh's floating gardens that help farmers cope with floods

The Loss and Damage Fund helps countries recover when prevention isn't enough:

• After disasters strike - like Pakistan needing $40 billion following 2022's floods
• When slow-onset changes become unavoidable - like rising seas threatening island nations

The previous Climate Finance promise of $100 billion per year wasn't enough - scientists and economists show we need about ten times that amount. Take the Maldives - they need $8.8 billion just for sea defences under Climate Finance's adaptation category, while also potentially needing Loss and Damage support if defences fail.

The big decisions

At COP29, countries must agree on:

1. A new Climate Finance goal that significantly increases both mitigation and adaptation funding
2. How to make the new Loss and Damage Fund work effectively and fairly
3. What each country will do to cut emissions faster (requiring more mitigation finance)

Why this matters

Science shows us possible futures - some dangerous, some hopeful. The decisions about Climate Finance and Loss and Damage at COP29 will help determine which future becomes reality. For young people especially, these funding choices will shape your world. Whether it's helping island nations survive rising seas through adaptation funding, supporting countries to leap straight to clean energy with mitigation finance, or helping communities rebuild through the Loss and Damage Fund, the money agreed at COP29 will decide how well we can tackle the climate crisis.