Azerbaijan hosts UN roundtable on climate change, human mobility

Azerbaijan’s presidency of COP29 has organised a discussion titled "High-level Roundtable on Climate, Peace, and Human Mobility" during the UN General Assembly's "High-Level Week."

The event, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), brought together representatives from UN member states, specialized agencies, ambassadors, and diplomats, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Key speakers included IOM Director General Amy Pope, Azerbaijan's Special Envoy for Climate Change Elshad Iskandarov, Italy's Special Envoy for Climate Change Francesco Corvaro, and Ahmed Abdul-Latif, Director General of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCPA).

In his remarks, Iskandarov highlighted Azerbaijan's commitment to contributing to international peace and security during its COP29 presidency. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with global partners to promote ceasefire initiatives, noting that regions experiencing population growth are disproportionately affected by both climate change and conflict.

The event aimed to provide practical support to countries facing these challenges. He also announced that November 15 would be declared "Day of Promoting Peace," with related events planned in Baku.

Additionally, Azerbaijan will establish the "Baku Center for Climate and Peace" to advance discussions on climate change and peacebuilding.

Meanwhile, IOM Director General Amy Pope praised Azerbaijan's efforts to advance a peaceful agenda at COP29, expressing confidence that concrete outcomes would emerge from the conference. She stressed the significance of international assistance for vulnerable populations and the need for preventative measures to avert future conflicts over water, air, and arable land. Citing World Bank data, Pope warned that without proactive steps, up to 60 million people could face forced displacement due to climate impacts by 2050, a statistic that raises serious alarm.

The round table facilitated important discussions on the critical drivers of climate-related displacement, including water scarcity, food security, and land degradation. Panelists shared insights on current challenges and offered recommendations, aiming to bridge the gap between climate and peace initiatives through collaborative actions. The meeting also provided a platform to discuss Azerbaijan’s preparations for COP29.

To recap. the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan this November. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary session in Dubai on December 11, 2023. During two weeks, Baku will become a global hub, welcoming around 70,000 to 80,000 international guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aimed at preventing dangerous human interference with the climate system. 

The abbreviation COP means "Conference of the Parties" and refers to the highest decision-making body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the UNFCCC. The Convention has 198 member states. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, the COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in Berlin in March 1995, and its secretariat is based in Bonn.

By Khagan Isayev