Baku's big green leap: President Ilham Aliyev’s vision in anticipation of COP29 Article by Dispatch News Desk

The Dispatch News Desk of Pakistan recently featured an article by Shahid Ajmal Malik, highlighting the COP29 climate summit scheduled to take place in Baku this November. Caliber.Az reprints the piece.

Baku, a city renowned for its ancient minarets and contemporary architecture, is set to host the 2024 Climate Change Conference (COP29). The summit aims to “enhance ambition and enable action,” as stated by COP29 President-designate Mukhtar Babayev. In his formal communication to member states and the global community, Babayev emphasized Azerbaijan’s commitment to facilitating meaningful progress. The conference is expected to play a crucial role in bridging the divide between the Global North and the climate-affected Global South. During the event, governments will evaluate global efforts to advance the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, while also negotiating effective strategies to combat climate change.

The presidency of COP29 will focus on urging global stakeholders to address polycrises and strive to maintain the 1.5-degree target while ensuring inclusivity. Key areas of focus will include National Adaptation Plans, Biennial Transparency Reports, 1.5-degree-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions, the new Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, and finalizing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) will bring together world leaders, policymakers, and climate scientists to address pressing climate issues. Hosting COP29 represents a significant diplomatic achievement for Azerbaijan and highlights the country’s dedication to combating climate change. The conference provides Baku with an opportunity to showcase its environmental initiatives and engage in substantial climate diplomacy. Azerbaijan, under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050 and aims to derive 30% of its power from renewable sources by 2030. Key components of Azerbaijan’s green energy strategy include investments in wind, hydro, solar, and green hydrogen projects.

Hosting such a prestigious conference is not without its challenges, particularly given Azerbaijan’s complex regional dynamics. The country faces hostility from neighbouring Armenia and has been subjected to a concerted disinformation campaign by Western media, driven by political motives. During the second Global Media Forum in Shusha, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, addressed these issues: “We have faced a powerful disinformation campaign regarding COP29,” he said. He stressed that despite the disinformation, Azerbaijan remains steadfast in its commitment to combating climate change and continues to receive fair support for its just position.

Despite the challenges, Azerbaijan will be in the global spotlight in November as it hosts COP29. President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at the second Shusha Global Media Forum, underscored the significance of this opportunity: “We treat our chairmanship in COP29 not only as an opportunity to showcase ourselves and present our country,” he said. “COP29 is a sign of great respect and support to Azerbaijan from the international community. We want COP29 to be successful in tackling the issues of climate change. At the same time, it’s an opportunity to tell our story.”

Azerbaijan is rapidly advancing towards green energy, even though it possesses substantial fossil fuel resources. At the forum, President Aliyev highlighted the progress in renewable energy: “We inaugurated the first solar power station of 230 megawatts. Now, the construction of a wind power station of 240 megawatts is underway. Soon, we will enjoy the groundbreaking ceremony for the third solar power station of 240 megawatts. The first was done by Masdar, the second, which is now under construction, is ACWA Power, and the third, which we expect to start with BP – the leading energy company of the world. Above that, last month in Baku, we had the groundbreaking ceremony for three solar and wind power stations with a total capacity of one gigawatt. So, we are doing a lot of that. We have great potential—both technical and economic,” he maintained.

The second Global Media Forum, attended by over 150 international delegates from about 50 countries, including representatives from 30 news agencies, three international organizations, and 82 media outlets, was themed “Unmasking False Narratives: Confronting Disinformation.” This forum aimed to foster collaborative discussions and unify global media outlets. It also positioned Shusha, and Azerbaijan at large, on the world stage, ready to engage in significant global conversations. During the forum, President Aliyev addressed a wide range of topics, including geopolitics, energy, climate change, media roles, disinformation, and artificial intelligence.

Criticizing biased media coverage, President Aliyev stated: “Media should not be used as a weapon. There must be a variety of opinions. What we see now in many countries is that the media reflects only one opinion on various subjects.” He emphasized the importance of truthful and unbiased narratives, warning against media attacks orchestrated as part of coordinated campaigns.

One of COP29’s key objectives will be to build upon the 2009 pledge of $100 billion annually for climate finance. The conference will seek to establish a new financing target and discuss strategies for global emissions reduction. This involves sharing techniques to lower greenhouse gas emissions and aiming to limit global warming to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The conference will also address climate challenges specific to the Caucasus region.

As one of the ten most climate-vulnerable countries, Pakistan is eager to share its experiences at COP29. The 2022 floods served as a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for global advocacy in environmental justice, loss and damage, and climate finance. Pakistan aims to leverage COP29 to raise awareness about its climate vulnerabilities and advocate for increased international support. Participation in COP29 offers Pakistan the opportunity to access funding, technology transfers, and expertise for strengthening resilience and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan, despite geographical distances, share a commitment to addressing climate change. Pakistan has expressed full support for Azerbaijan’s COP29 hosting and wishes the country success. Both nations are committed to enhancing cooperation in technology transfer, research, and collaborative efforts in various sectors to achieve climate resilience.