COP29: IDEA founder Leyla Aliyeva advocates for stronger climate, biodiversity partnerships PHOTO

Leyla Aliyeva, founder of the International Dialogue for Environmental Action (IDEA), took part in the "Global Leaders Roundtable: Aligning Climate Action and Biodiversity Conservation for Achieving a Nature-positive Future and the Paris Agreement Goals".

The event, held on November 21, was co-organised by the COP29 Presidency, IDEA, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Caliber.Az reports via local media.

In her opening remarks, Aliyeva underscored the devastating impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, calling for urgent and collective international action. She highlighted the historical presence of species such as the Caspian tiger and Asiatic lion in the South Caucasus, including Azerbaijan, which are now extinct.

"The loss of such iconic species is a stark reminder of the pressing need for decisive action to protect our planet’s biodiversity," Aliyeva stated.

Aliyeva also shared the progress made by IDEA since its inception in 2011, including key initiatives to safeguard Azerbaijan’s unique environment and maintain ecological balance. She outlined efforts such as the "Big Five of the Caucasus" conservation programme, projects focused on the protection of bison, gazelles, and Caspian sturgeons, as well as various volunteer-led environmental activities.

She concluded her speech by calling for new partnerships and enhanced cooperation to ensure a sustainable future:

"We must work together to secure a healthy, thriving planet for future generations."

The dialogue featured key contributions from several high-profile leaders, including COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar, UNFCCC Operations Director Chhaya Kapilashrami, CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker, and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.

The event concluded with a panel discussion involving government and private sector leaders, as well as environmental ministers from various countries, who explored ways to align climate action with biodiversity conservation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev