Azerbaijan outlines ambitious climate commitments at COP30

On November 17, Deputy Foreign Minister and COP29 Chief Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev delivered Azerbaijan’s national statement at COP30, highlighting the country’s continued commitment to climate action and multilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the conference, Rafiyev reflected on the historic outcomes achieved during Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency and affirmed the country’s intention to work closely with all Parties to advance global climate efforts, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

He outlined Azerbaijan’s own ambitious climate initiatives, including a revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that accelerates the country’s commitment to reduce emissions by 40%, moving the target forward from 2050 to 2035.

Rafiyev also emphasised Azerbaijan’s domestic, regional, and international measures to protect the Caspian Sea, calling on the global community to support efforts to safeguard this vital resource.

In November 2024, Azerbaijan hosted COP29 in Baku, marking a major moment on the global climate stage. The summit attracted over 72,000 participants, including representatives from nearly 200 countries.

Under Azerbaijan’s presidency, two central goals were prioritised from the start: establishing a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance and finalising the rules for carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

At its conclusion, COP29 achieved a landmark agreement, with developed countries pledging to mobilise at least US$300 billion annually by 2035 to support developing nations. This represents a threefold increase over the previous US$100 billion target.

The conference also advanced long-standing elements of the Paris Agreement. After nearly a decade of negotiations, Parties reached a consensus on carbon market mechanisms, providing renewed momentum for global trading of emission reductions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev