Baku’s COP29 to highlight ocean’s role in climate solutions with key pavilion

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California, San Diego, will participate in COP29, the upcoming climate conference in Baku.

COP29 will feature the Ocean Pavilion, organized by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and other leading global ocean organizations, Caliber.Az reports citing the institute's message.

The pavilion will focus on the ocean’s critical role in addressing climate change.

Located in the Blue Zone, the Ocean Pavilion will provide a central space for COP29 delegates and international climate negotiators to exchange ideas on how ocean science and solutions can be used to tackle the climate crisis.

“The ocean has the potential to help solve some of the most important climate challenges, including stabilizing the Earth's climate, sustainably feeding growing populations, and protecting marine species,” said Margaret Leinen, the director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and vice chancellor for marine sciences at UC San Diego.

Azerbaijan was unanimously selected to host COP29 during the COP28 plenary session on December 11, 2023, after receiving widespread support from Eastern European countries. The conference is expected to bring together around 80,000 participants, including top-level state and government officials from across the world.

In anticipation of COP29, Azerbaijan has declared 2024 as the "Green World Solidarity Year," with a focus on fostering global cooperation to address climate change. The COP29 Presidency’s strategy is built on two key pillars: increasing ambition and enabling action. These pillars emphasize the importance of transparent national climate plans and mobilizing finance to transform ambitious climate goals into real-world outcomes, from reducing emissions to addressing climate-related damage.

Azerbaijan has also launched a $1 billion Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF), which will receive contributions from fossil fuel-producing countries and companies. Half of the fund will be dedicated to supporting climate projects in developing countries, with a focus on clean energy, energy efficiency, and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities.

As part of a broader peace-building initiative, the COP29 Presidency has introduced the “COP Truce Appeal,” which aims to promote global peace, dialogue, and reconciliation in the context of climate action.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has underscored the significance of hosting COP29, which will provide an opportunity to unite national and international efforts in the fight against the severe impacts of climate change. Baku has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and 40% by 2050, in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

By Tamilla Hasanova