Azerbaijan, UN-HABITAT strengthen urbanisation collaboration at COP29 PHOTO 

Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Samir Nuriyev and a delegation led by Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anacláudia Rossbach have discussed preparation for the 13th World Urban Forum.

The forum will be held in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku in 2026. The sides underscored the fruitful partnership between Azerbaijan and UN-HABITAT, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

During the meeting, Ms. Rossbach, who is in Baku, to participate in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) congratulated Azerbaijan on the high level of organisation of COP29.  

Mr. Nuriyev, who is also the chairman of the COP29 Organising Committee, emphasised the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and UN-HABITAT, including the integration of urbanization into the COP29 agenda.

He highlighted the significance of the National Urban Forums held in Aghdam and Zangilan, as well as the events marking World Habitat Day in Baku. 

COP29, which is being held at Baku Stadium from November 11-22, is Azerbaijan’s most significant international event to date and the first time the country has hosted a COP conference. The summit kicked off with the signing of the Host Country Agreement and other key documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. One of the central goals of COP29 is the establishment of a New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. To further this aim, the COP29 presidency has introduced 14 key initiatives designed to integrate climate action with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

These initiatives cover a broad spectrum of critical areas, including the development of green energy corridors, energy storage solutions, climate resilience strategies, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and the promotion of green digital technologies. A flagship proposal of the conference is the creation of the Climate Finance Action Fund, which is aimed at supporting efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Throughout the event, Azerbaijan has continued to reaffirm its strong commitment to addressing climate change and promoting environmental protection. The unanimous decision to select Azerbaijan as the host for COP29 reflects the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate-related issues. In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan’s central role in global climate efforts, emphasizing the nation’s dedication to tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development.

By Naila Huseynova