COP29: Azerbaijan’s bold climate-peace agenda wins high praise at Geneva event PHOTO

An event dedicated to the intersection of climate change and global peace was held at the headquarters of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva, organized jointly by Azerbaijan's COP29 Chairmanship and the Federation.

The gathering attracted a broad array of participants, including permanent missions of UN agencies, international humanitarian organizations, and representatives of UN member states based in Geneva, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

In his opening speech, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain extended his gratitude to Azerbaijan for focusing on the critical issue of the link between climate change and peace. He commended the work of Azerbaijan’s COP29 Chairmanship, lauding its initiatives in addressing this global challenge.

Elshad Iskenderov, Chief Advisor of the COP29 Chairmanship and Ambassador for Special Assignments at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered detailed insights on the upcoming "Day of Peace, Relief, and Recovery," which will be held as part of COP29. He drew attention to key threats posed by climate change, such as water scarcity, food insecurity, soil degradation, and increasing migration, noting that these factors pose significant risks to international peace and security.

During the event, participants were introduced to the concept of the Baku Climate and Peacemaking Center, initiated by Azerbaijan’s COP29 Chairmanship. In addition, the preliminary draft of the "Baku Call for Peace to Combat Climate Change" was presented, offering practical proposals to address the interconnection between climate action and peacebuilding.

Ambassador Galib Israfilov, Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, highlighted Azerbaijan’s contributions to strengthening international peace as part of its COP29 agenda. He emphasized how Azerbaijan's chairmanship is fostering global cooperation on these critical issues.

The event saw active participation, with representatives from 42 countries and 12 international organizations in attendance. The COP29 Chairmanship’s presentation on the climate-peace nexus was met with high appreciation from the audience. Azerbaijani officials provided detailed responses to numerous questions from participants, further enhancing the dialogue on these crucial global challenges.

By Tamilla Hasanova