Azerbaijan’s deputy minister highlights clean cooking as key climate solution at COP29

Elnur Soltanov, Deputy Minister of Energy and Chief Executive Officer of COP29, emphasized the critical role of clean cooking technologies in addressing climate challenges at the "Making 2024 a Turning Point for Clean Cooking" event during COP29.

Soltanov highlighted that transitioning to clean energy for cooking is one of the proposed climate solutions aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

He stressed that this initiative is especially vital for protecting vulnerable populations, including families and communities in developing countries.

"This is a very important issue," Soltanov stated, noting that clean cooking technologies are closely linked to climate adaptation, forest preservation, and the protection of the most vulnerable countries. He pointed out that implementing clean cooking solutions can significantly benefit communities by reducing exposure to harmful pollutants, improving health, and safeguarding the environment.

COP29, being held from November 11 to 22 at Baku Stadium, marks Azerbaijan’s largest and most significant event to date and is the first time the country has hosted a COP summit. The event witnessed the signing of a Host Country Agreement and other crucial documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat.

A key focus of COP29 is the establishment of a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. The presidency of COP29 has introduced 14 initiatives that connect climate action to the Sustainable Development Goals, including green energy corridors, energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, green digital technologies, and more. One of the proposed initiatives is the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund aimed at achieving the critical target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Azerbaijan's commitment to mitigating climate change and protecting the environment has been evident throughout COP29. The unanimous decision to elect Azerbaijan as the host for this summit reflects the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate action, as President Ilham Aliyev highlighted, underscoring Azerbaijan's important role in global climate efforts.

By Vafa Guliyeva