Baku Stadium to go green for COP29 with sustainable energy innovations

Azerbaijan’s COP29 Operating Company is set to implement sustainable energy solutions at Baku Stadium as part of its efforts to promote environmental sustainability and reduce its ecological footprint during all stages of the conference.

A major portion of the stadium’s energy supply for COP29 will be sourced from hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), Caliber.Az reports citing the operating company's statement.

HVO is a low-carbon fuel, with its emissions offset by the carbon absorbed by the plants used in its production, offering a greener alternative to conventional fossil fuels.

In addition to its low carbon footprint, HVO significantly cuts down on harmful emissions such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, contributing to cleaner air quality in and around the venue. Alongside HVO, the stadium’s remaining energy needs will be met entirely through renewable energy sources throughout the conference.

This forward-thinking initiative is being carried out with the backing of SOCAR Green, COP29’s energy transition partner, which is playing a pivotal role in supplying the required HVO for powering the event. This step aligns with Azerbaijan's larger vision of transitioning to a more sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

The COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company is confident that this approach will serve as a model for other international events and will reinforce its commitment to hosting a sustainable and carbon-neutral conference.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will take place in Azerbaijan this November. This decision was made during the COP28 plenary session in Dubai on December 11, 2023. Baku is expected to welcome approximately 70,000 to 80,000 international attendees over the two-week event.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. The COP, or “Conference of the Parties,” is the highest decision-making body responsible for overseeing the implementation of the UNFCCC, which has 198 member states. Unless otherwise decided, the COP convenes annually; the first COP was held in Berlin in March 1995, with its secretariat based in Bonn.

By Tamilla Hasanova