Zangilan-hosted conference on mine action ties to COP29 climate goals

The international conference on mine action, themed “Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future,” underscored the critical connection between mine action and climate change resilience.

This linkage was highlighted by Ivana Živković, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Report informs.

Živković emphasized the alignment between the conference’s objectives and the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, set for November. She noted that both events are focused on transformative actions aimed at achieving environmental sustainability and bolstering climate change resilience.

"Collective action and innovation is essential to combat mine problem. Addressing the global mine problem requires a collective effort and a comprehensive strategy that integrates political will, technological innovation, public engagement, and international cooperation,” Živković stated.

The UNDP official highlighted Azerbaijan’s proactive stance on mine action, noting the country’s adoption of a national initiative aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 18.

“This goal, although not officially listed among the 17 SDGs, focuses specifically on mine action and underscores the critical importance of addressing landmine and unexploded ordnance contamination,” she noted.