Azerbaijan, UNICEF sign declaration on children, youth, climate action at COP29

Azerbaijan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) signed a declaration on “Children, Youth, and Climate Action” during a ceremony at COP29 on November 11.

The document was officially signed by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, and UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, Caliber.Az reports.

Minister Babayev highlighted Azerbaijan’s ongoing commitment to the global climate process, emphasizing its crucial importance for the future of children and youth. “We encourage all parties to consider how climate action can help create a more sustainable future for our children and youth,” he said, underscoring the need for collective efforts to address the climate crisis.

In her remarks, UNICEF’s Catherine Russell affirmed strong support for Azerbaijan's commitment, welcoming the country’s leadership in signing the declaration. She also called on other nations to join the initiative, stressing the urgent need for global action to protect children from the escalating impacts of climate change.

“This declaration is a pioneering framework, both locally and globally, designed to accelerate inclusive climate policies and actions that specifically target children and youth,” Russell noted.

The event also highlighted the alarming statistics that approximately half of the world’s children—around 1 billion young people—live in 33 countries deemed to be at "extremely high risk" from climate change and environmental pollution.

COP29, taking place from November 11 to 22 at the Baku Stadium, is the largest event Azerbaijan has ever hosted and the first time the conference is being held in the region.

An agreement on the "Host Country" and other important documents were signed between the Government of Azerbaijan and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat.

As part of COP29, the highest-level event, the Global Climate Action Summit, will take place on November 12-13.

The main expectation from COP29 is the agreement on a fair and ambitious new collective quantitative goal (NCQG) related to climate financing.

The presidency of COP29 has put forward 14 initiatives, which include the connection between climate action and sustainable development goals, such as green energy corridors, green energy storage, harmony for climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction in organic waste, actions in green digital technologies, and other topics. One of the initiatives also includes the creation of a Climate Financing Action Fund.

In addition to being the main priority that drives the activities and brings everyone together, the creation of climate financing will also contribute to fulfilling the 1.5°C commitment.

By Vafa Guliyeva