Azerbaijan engaging in climate talks at UNFCCC summit in Bonn, Germany

Having gained significant experience from COP29 last year, Azerbaijan continues to actively engage in addressing global climate challenges at the 62nd session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), currently taking place in Bonn, Germany.

Azerbaijan’s contribution to solving global climate issues has been highly praised at the event, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

In a statement to journalists, Chair of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, Adonia Ayebare, said: “Azerbaijan hosted COP29 with distinction and succeeded in uniting the parties as the presiding country. We should also thank the parties for their commitment to dialogue. Azerbaijan demonstrated leadership. All eyes are on the actions of the presiding country, as Azerbaijan has already made its mark in Baku.”

Acknowledging Azerbaijan’s efforts, UNFCCC Secretariat member Karin Simonson expressed her gratitude for Azerbaijan’s successful COP29 presidency: “The leadership of the Subsidiary Body invited the COP29 presidency to support negotiations and promote parties’ commitments to proposals. We thank them for the successful adoption of the agenda and for acting as a bridge between the parties.”

Echoing this sentiment, UNFCCC Secretariat member Natalie Williams told reporters that Azerbaijan had already made a lasting impact on climate negotiations: “Last year’s conference in Baku achieved impressive results on long-term finance and the new collective quantified goal. It was a truly strong initiative. Other important initiatives were also proposed and agreed upon.”

Highlighting the global influence of Azerbaijan’s efforts, COP30 Climate Champion from Brazil, Den Yochpe, emphasised the importance of Azerbaijan’s experience in enhancing the effectiveness of the upcoming conference in Brazil: “The work carried out in Baku in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises was highly appreciated. This is a very important topic, as Brazilian society also heavily relies on small and medium businesses. The $300 billion finance agreement reached in Baku is of great significance. Equally important is the idea of increasing this amount to $1.3 trillion as part of the 'roadmap' from Baku to Belém. All of these achievements were made in Baku. Even the decision to continue the Climate Champions initiative was made then.”

Reflecting on Azerbaijan’s innovative contributions, Elshad Iskandarov, Special Envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, stated that the Baku Hub for Climate and Peace, established during COP29, has already achieved its first results: “The main goal of the Baku Hub is to increase international support for countries affected by both climate change and conflict. As a result of several months of work, three countries — Iraq, Chad, and Guinea-Bissau — have already submitted their first projects.”

By Khagan Isayev