COP 29 Side Event: Leveraging Postal Networks to Influence Global Freight Emissions

End-to-end delivery of international parcels and letters requires close cooperation by multiple actors, and has historically focused on optimizing payment, speed, efficiency and security. Stakeholders urgently need to expand this cooperation to optimize the global postal network to minimize its climate impact. This event focuses on the opportunities to reduce freight emissions that are spread across the postal value chain.

Freight transportation is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for approximately 10% of the world's emissions. As the demand for freight services continues to rise, it is imperative to address the environmental impact of this sector. However, current national efforts, including the NDC policies, are often narrowly defined around passenger transport. Given the pivotal role of postal networks in global freight movement, these networks present a unique opportunity to address related policy discussions and to influence and reduce emissions associated with freight movement. This is especially true in the context of growing global e-commerce, where the global postal network handles two-thirds of small consignments in the cross-border market.

Featuring a panel presentation and roundtable discussion, the primary objective of this side event is to explore and discuss strategies to leverage the global postal network to significantly reduce GHG emissions from freight movement. Emissions from different modes of transportation—aviation, maritime, road, and rail—as well as from warehouse, port management and delivery, are addressed respectively in various global and national frameworks. This side event aims to enhance understanding and awareness among COP participants of recent developments and progress in this context. By prioritizing technology innovation, optimized transport modes, supportive policy frameworks, and strategic investment, this event aims to catalyze impactful and coordinated efforts, fostering lasting partnerships and forward-looking actions across the postal climate value chain. 

To participate, register for COP 29 here. 
Recording to be made available here.

Agenda

Side Event Room 1, COP29 Blue Zone
 

13:15-13:50	Opening remarks
	Following the introduction by UPU and opening remarks of Mr. Isi Mustafayev, a 20-minute presentation by the five organizing agencies—ICAO, IMO, UNCTAD, UPU, and the World Bank—will cover key topics such as freight movement and the postal value chain, its associated climate impact, evolving sustainability practices, and governance efforts. Each agency representative will also discuss their respective agency's focus on postal freight movement, relevant global policy progress, and potential for collaboration across postal climate value chain in order to insert demand-side intervention aimed at reducing freight emissions.
	List of Speakers Mr. Isi Mustafayev, Acting Chairman of the Board, Azerpost LLC Mr. Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulation & Markets, Universal Postal Union (UPU) Ms. Celine Bacrot, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Trade Logistics Branch, Division on Technology and Logistics, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Ms. Jane Hupe, Envoy of the ICAO Secretary-General to UNFCCC COP, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Mr. Roel Hoenders, Head of Climate Action and Clean Air, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ms. Elisabeth Türk, Director, Economic Cooperation and Trade, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Mr Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, Global Director, Transport, World Bank (video recording)
13:50-14:35	Roundtable discussion: demand-side intervention, challenges and solutions
	The roundtable will begin with the first group of participants sharing country examples and market practices, highlighting practical challenges, and then exchanging ideas on solutions. They are invited to address specific climate transformation issues faced by postal and logistics players, along with efforts to leverage the network to drive upstream and downstream sustainability practices. Topics could include access to clean technologies, infrastructure financing, modal optimization, cross-sectoral policy support, and data collaboration across the value chain, with participants offering both insights and proposed solutions.   Delegates of supporting agencies will then be invited to consider how they can support cross-sector collaboration to address freight emissions and opportunities for collective efforts to establish the necessary enabling conditions.   List of Participants Ms. Yaxuan Chen, Sustainability Services Expert, Universal Postal Union (UPU) (Moderator) Country experience and market practices Mr. Isi Mustafayev, Acting Chairman of the Board, Azerpost LLC Ms. Junshu Ren, Public Affairs Director, Cainiao Ms. Kasia Kłaczyńska Lewis, Partner, Ernst & Young Mr. Jarod Ho, Head of Sustainability, Pos Malaysia Ms. Daisy Shen, Head of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, KPMG Delegates of Supporting Agencies Ms. Jane Hupe, Envoy of the ICAO Secretary-General to UNFCCC COP, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Mr. Roel Hoenders, Head of Climate Action and Clean Air, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ms. Elisabeth Türk, Director, Economic Cooperation and Trade, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Ms. Celine Bacrot, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Trade Logistics Branch, Division on Technology and Logistics, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Mr. Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulation & Markets, Universal Postal Union (UPU)
14:35-14:45	Concluding Remarks and a Postage Stamp Cancellation Ceremony Mr. Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulation & Markets, Universal Postal Union (UPU) (moderator) Mr. Isi Mustafayev, Acting Chairman of the Board, Azerpost LLC Ms. Juliana Picoli Agatte, Director of Governance, Correios   Postage Stamp Cancellation Ceremony Dedicated to COP 29 by Azerpost The Postage Stamp Cancellation Ceremony, dedicated to COP 29, will take place during the UNFCCC COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and celebrate the country’s commitment to climate action. This special ceremony will feature the cancellation of a limited-edition stamp made from 100% recycled paper, with a circulation of 10,000. The stamp symbolizes Azerbaijan's role in the global effort to address climate change and promote sustainability. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in sealing First Day covers and capture memorable photos of the occasion. As a gesture of appreciation, gift stamps will be distributed to attendees, making the event a memorable and meaningful experience for all.