Baku’s climate spotlight: UN praises Azerbaijan’s pivotal role ahead of COP29

Donald Cooper, Director of the UN Secretariat's Office of Climate Accountability, emphasized the need for clearer communication about climate change during a panel discussion in Baku on September 3.

Speaking at the high-level dialogue on "Bi-annual Transparency Reports (BTRs) as a Tool for Building National Capacity," Cooper noted that complex terminology often obscures the reality of climate challenges, making it difficult for the public to grasp the issues, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“A lot of people don't understand what we're talking about. It's crucial to explain, in simple terms, what we’re trying to achieve,” Cooper said.

He also praised Baku for hosting COP29 and acknowledged Azerbaijan's role in advancing global climate efforts. “I want to thank Azerbaijan for being a global leader in this vital endeavour, helping to ensure the survival of our planet for the years to come,” Cooper added.

Azerbaijan is set to host COP29 in November, following the decision made during the COP28 plenary in Dubai on December 11, 2023. Baku is expected to become a major global hub, welcoming approximately 70,000 to 80,000 international guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), established at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to address human impacts on the climate system. The Conference of the Parties (COP), consisting of 198 member countries, oversees the implementation of the UNFCCC. COP meetings are held annually, with the first taking place in Berlin in March 1995, and the secretariat located in Bonn.