Beyond the Pledges: What COP29 Means for Climate, Finance, Policy and the Energy Transition

As COP29 unfolds in Baku, Azerbaijan, this CERAWeek Podcast episode dives into the conference’s key topics, from climate financing to global policy alignment. Host Atul Arya, S&P Global Chief Energy Strategist, speaks with Eirik Wærness, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Equinor, and Anna Mosby, Head of Global Environmental Policy and Markets at S&P Global, to explore:

• Financing the Transition: The demand for trillions in climate investment drives debate on funding methods, balancing grants and concessional financing with debt-based models to support developing nations
• Energy Transition and Demand: From rising electricity needs fueled by AI and data centers to a renewed role for nuclear power, they discuss how energy security and infrastructure shifts are influencing decarbonization strategies
• Policy Impacts: Wærness and Mosby assess the effectiveness of major climate policies, like the IRA and the EU Green Deal, and the role of national commitments in advancing energy transition