Azerbaijani parliament speaker highlights green energy, smart city projects during meeting with OSCE VP

Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova and Vice President and Special Representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Climate Change Pere Joan Pons have discussed the successful organisation of COP29, the parliamentary session, as well as the discussions held during the event. 

All countries are affected by climate change, and combating this challenge requires collective efforts and the involvement of all parties. Both sides expressed confidence that COP29 would lead to the adoption of significant decisions aimed at effectively addressing climate change. The crucial role of parliaments in tackling climate-related issues was also emphasised, the Azerbaijani parliament told Caliber.Az. 

The vice president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly congratulated Azerbaijan on the successful hosting of such an important event. In his view, the global approach to climate change issues must be revised, and more attention must be given to this area.

He expressed confidence that the decisions made at COP29 would lead to significant outcomes for the entire world.

During the conversation, Gafarova informed her guest about the ongoing projects in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories related to green energy, as well as the "smart cities" and "smart villages" initiatives. 

She emphasised that Azerbaijan has integrated the green agenda into its national development programmes and is actively implementing renewable energy projects.

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