COP29 in Baku set to forge key climate agreements, standards

The upcoming COP29 climate conference in Baku this November is poised to make significant strides in global climate action, with an anticipated 60 decisions focused on critical areas such as climate finance, the establishment of carbon markets, and consumer market regulations.

The announcement was made by Yalchin Rafiyev, Lead Negotiator for COP29 Azerbaijan during the ministerial meeting on Climate and Development (C&DM) as part of the second day of UN Preliminary Conference of Parties on Climate Change (Pre-COP29), Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Rafiyev emphasized that the conference will see the adoption of various documents and declarations, collectively termed the “Baku” declarations. He revealed that among the 14 initiatives proposed by Azerbaijan, several will culminate in formal agreements at COP29.

"Climate, financial, trade, and investment initiatives will be closely associated with the name of Baku. Additionally, we expect eight declarations and commitments that will carry the 'Baku' label into COP history," he stated.

In a related development, the Baku Climate Conference will also address educational standards, particularly the concept of “green schools.”

Hasan Hasanli, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Science and Education, spoke at a panel session during Pre-COP29, highlighting the importance of qualified educators in climate change.

He noted, "Teachers must possess the relevant skills to effectively teach climate-related topics."

Hasanli further mentioned that countries involved in the UNESCO new Greening Education Initiative will participate in COP29 discussions. "We aim to build on the agreements reached at previous meetings, especially concerning climate finance. The discourse will include how environmental factors impact children's education and learning," he added.

As COP29 approaches, the focus remains on establishing a robust framework for climate action, ensuring that the decisions made in Baku will resonate across the globe for years to come.

Set to occur this November, the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) will be a landmark event for Azerbaijan as it assumes the presidency of this vital climate conference. The COP presidency rotates among the five recognized UN regions, and the event is expected to attract between 70,000 to 80,000 international attendees. Baku Stadium has been designated as the venue, highlighting Azerbaijan's capacity to host significant global events.

Azerbaijan’s presidency for COP29 is committed to fostering a transparent, impartial, and inclusive process, anchored in a comprehensive plan built on two interconnected pillars aimed at enhancing ambition and facilitating action to tackle the urgent challenges posed by climate change.

The decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was made during the COP28 plenary session in Dubai on December 11, 2023. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, with the goal of preventing dangerous human interference with the climate system. The term COP, or "Conference of the Parties," refers to the highest decision-making body overseeing the UNFCCC's implementation, consisting of 198 member states. COP meetings are typically held annually, with the first COP taking place in Berlin in March 1995 and the secretariat located in Bonn.

By Vafa Guliyeva