Azerbaijani envoy to UK: COP29 - bridge between developed and developing countries Article on Chamber UK

The British media outlet Chamber UK has published an article by Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the UK Elin Suleymanov on the COP29 climate conference in Baku. Caliber.Az reprints this article. 

Azerbaijan is committed to delivering a transparent, impartial, inclusive, and party-driven COP29 that leaves no one behind and aims to advance across all climate pillars.

Our vision is based on two parallel pillars to enhance ambition and enable action by agreeing on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance as our top priority. Encouraging all Parties to come up with 1.5C-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions will also be among key priorities.

We will use our unique multilateral diplomacy experience to act as a bridge between the developed and developing nations, with the aim of achieving a fair and ambitious outcome at COP29.

Delivering for the Most Vulnerable – the Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Azerbaijan seeks to deliver for SIDS as these countries are most negatively impacted by climate change. To ensure their voices are heard in global climate dialogue, Azerbaijan will fund the SIDS’s participation at COP29 and provide separate pavilions for SIDS and the Commonwealth countries free of charge. Azerbaijan also partners with the Commonwealth to finance and support climate action across the Commonwealth SIDS.

Closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, COP29 Presidency’s 14 Action Agenda items pay particular attention to the most vulnerable countries and groups.

UK as the Staunch Supporter of COP29

As Azerbaijan’s long-time partner and the leading actor in climate action, the UK has been explicit, from the very first days, about its willingness to support Azerbaijan to ensure COP29’s success. While this commitment was reiterated by Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, in his key-note speech at the flagship COP29 reception hosted at the Embassy of Azerbaijan on July 25, Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate, was welcomed by King Charles at Clarence House the next day.

Final Thought

As COP29 begins in Baku, it represents an important opportunity for nations to come together and address the pressing challenges of climate change. Azerbaijan’s approach, emphasising inclusivity and collaboration, aims to ensure that the voices of all nations, particularly those most vulnerable, are heard and considered.

By fostering global partnerships and prioritising practical solutions, COP29 can help advance meaningful progress on climate finance, emission reductions, and resilience building. The outcomes of this conference will play a significant role in shaping the global response to climate change, making it a moment for focused action and collective commitment.

By Khagan Isayev