COP29 chairmanship: Baku call for action gains momentum at high-level climate meeting in UAE PHOTO

A strategic meeting of the Network of countries vulnerable to climate change, affected by conflicts, and in need of humanitarian assistance was held in the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event was organized as part of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Caliber.Az reports referring to local media.

The meeting brought together high-ranking representatives from climate-vulnerable countries, as well as international organizations and financial institutions. The primary objective of the event was to mobilize climate finance and develop practical solutions to enhance resilience, ensuring the implementation of the Baku Call for Action on Climate Change for Peace, Relief, and Recovery. This document, which was adopted last year at the initiative of Azerbaijan’s COP29 chairmanship, serves as a key framework for addressing climate-related challenges in conflict-affected regions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day strategic discussions, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev emphasized the importance of the Baku Call for Action and the establishment of the Baku Climate and Peace Action Center as a practical mechanism to support countries facing both climate crises and conflicts. He highlighted that Azerbaijan, as part of its COP29 chairmanship, aims to implement several pilot projects in vulnerable countries to promote international cooperation and increase assistance to these states.

Deputy Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdulla Balalaa, Director General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy Nickolay Mladenov, Special Envoy of the Italian Government on Climate Change Francesco Corvaro, and Chairman of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTA) of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Adonia Ayebare also addressed the opening session of the meeting. The speakers praised Azerbaijan’s efforts in climate diplomacy, particularly the emphasis on increasing assistance to vulnerable countries. They also acknowledged the role of the Baku Climate and Peace Action Center as an important coordination platform for large-scale international initiatives in the fields of climate and peace.

The ongoing meeting is expected to result in the adoption of the Vulnerable Countries Network Statement and the development of a Roadmap for its activities, further strengthening collaboration among nations most affected by climate change and conflict.

By Tamilla Hasanova