Azerbaijan leads climate dialogue in London on Caspian Sea, island nations’ shared challenges PHOTO

A flagship climate dialogue on “Sea Level Fluctuations and Unequal Consequences: Case Studies from the Caspian Sea and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” took place at London’s historic Marlborough House, bringing together diplomats, policymakers and climate advocates to discuss the growing risks posed by changing sea levels.

The event was co-hosted by the Commonwealth of Nations, which brings together 56 member countries, and gathered representatives from the British Foreign Office, diplomatic corps, small island states, environmental organisations, media, and youth leaders, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Addressing the meeting, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of the IDEA Public Union, drew attention to the declining water levels of the Caspian Sea. She warned that the combination of water loss in major lakes and plastic pollution over the past three decades had worsened environmental pressures.

Aliyeva underlined that Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 underscored the need for concrete action rather than rhetoric ahead of COP30. She also highlighted IDEA’s efforts to involve young people in environmental protection, noting that “our attitude towards nature reflects our attitude towards humanity”.

Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and COP29 President, called for global solidarity for the Caspian Sea comparable to that shown for the Amazon and other vital ecosystems. He announced that Azerbaijan, in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, is developing a 2025–2035 Action Plan to address the Caspian’s declining water levels. He recalled that, at President Ilham Aliyev’s initiative, Caspian littoral states had adopted a joint declaration during COP29 to strengthen regional cooperation.

Babayev also reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for small island nations through climate resilience and sustainable development projects, adding that delivering on COP29 commitments and boosting climate finance were essential to restoring international trust.

Suddhoo Arjoon, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, praised Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency for its sensitivity to the challenges faced by small island states. He referred to the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between the COP29 Presidency and the Commonwealth, which supports joint climate initiatives for member states most vulnerable to sea level rise.

Tim Hemmings, the UK Foreign Office’s Special Envoy for Small Island States, commended Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth for spotlighting sea level issues and said the UK had launched several initiatives to tackle related challenges.

Environmental advocate Michael Fishbach, co-founder of Whale Guardians, described the Caspian’s falling water levels as a warning sign of broader oceanic shifts. He urged urgent global action, praising Azerbaijan’s leadership during COP29 and its commitment to green energy transition.

Ambassadors from small island nations, including the Bahamas, Maldives, and Antigua and Barbuda, expressed deep concern about the existential threats posed by rising seas and thanked Azerbaijan for amplifying their voices on the international stage.

The event concluded with an exhibition celebrating Azerbaijan’s natural heritage, followed by a reception attended by diplomats and guests.

By Aghakazim Guliyev