Azerbaijan, Japan collaborate on methane emissions reduction at COP29

Azerbaijan’s Azerigas Production Union and the Japanese Mitsui & Co., Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore projects aimed at reducing methane emissions within the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). 

The MoU was signed by Azerigas CEO Azer Mammadov and Mitsui & Co., Ltd.'s Carbon Solutions Business Division CEO Kosuke Hattori, in the presence of SOCAR Vice President Elshad Nasirov and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. Energy Solutions Business Division COO Yasuhiro Uchida, Caliber.Az reports per local media.  

The document focuses on preventing gas leaks in the pipelines managed by Azerigaz across Azerbaijan, as well as using the Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) or other carbon credit mechanisms. The research will begin in the Zira settlement, with potential for broader application in the future.

COP29, being held from November 11 to 22 at Baku Stadium, represents Azerbaijan's largest and most significant international event to date, marking the first time the country has hosted a COP summit. The event began with the signing of a Host Country Agreement and other important documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. A central focus of COP29 is the establishment of a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. In line with this, the presidency of COP29 has introduced 14 key initiatives that link climate action to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These initiatives cover areas such as green energy corridors, energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and the development of green digital technologies. One of the flagship proposals is the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund, aimed at supporting the critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Throughout COP29, Azerbaijan has demonstrated its commitment to climate action and environmental protection. The unanimous decision to elect Azerbaijan as the host for this summit underscores the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate issues. In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in global climate efforts, underscoring the country’s dedication to mitigating climate change and advancing sustainable development.

By Naila Huseynova