Azerbaijan elected chair of UNEP Committee Bureau for first time

Azerbaijan was elected chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) Bureau of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the first time on June 24.

The decision was made during a UNEP CPR meeting, Caliber.Az reports via the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The UNEP CPR is the main governing body of the UN Environment Assembly, which brings together 193 member states to set global environmental priorities. The CPR Bureau plays a crucial role in shaping the Assembly’s policies and advancing international environmental regulations.

Azerbaijan’s chairmanship will cover the period from 2025 to 2027. The country’s ambassador to Kenya and permanent representative to UNEP, Sultan Hajiyev, will represent Azerbaijan in this capacity.

This appointment comes after Azerbaijan hosted the COP29 climate conference last November, gaining international recognition for its initiatives on climate change and environmental protection. The election also follows Azerbaijan’s recent designation as host of World Environment Day 2026, reflecting growing cooperation with UNEP.

By Sabina Mammadli