COP29 in Azerbaijan: High-level delegates arrive as Baku prepares for climate action

President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi arrived in Azerbaijan on 10 November to participate in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

At Heydar Aliyev International Airport, where the national flags of both countries were flying, the guest was greeted by Azerbaijani Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Suriname Rashad Novruz, and other officials, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Patrice Emery Trovoada also arrived in Azerbaijan on 10 November to attend COP29.

As a previous guest, he was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov and other officials.

Azerbaijan was unanimously chosen to host COP29 during the COP28 plenary session in December 2023, after receiving significant support from Eastern European countries. The conference is expected to attract approximately 80,000 participants, including high-level state and government officials from around the world.

In preparation for COP29, Azerbaijan has declared 2024 as the "Green World Solidarity Year," aimed at fostering global collaboration to address the climate crisis. The strategy for the conference is structured around two primary pillars: raising ambition and enabling action. This focus includes the promotion of transparent national climate plans and mobilizing financial resources to convert ambitious climate goals into actionable outcomes, such as reducing emissions and mitigating the damage caused by climate change.

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

As part of its broader peace-building initiatives, the COP29 Presidency has introduced the “COP Truce Appeal,” which promotes global peace and reconciliation within the context of climate action.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has emphasized the significance of hosting COP29, noting that it provides a vital opportunity to unite both national and international efforts to combat the severe impacts of climate change. Azerbaijan has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and by 40% by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement.

By Tamilla Hasanova