COP29 parliamentary meeting in Azerbaijan focuses on climate change health, food security

The efforts of protecting health and food security in the context of climate change have been discussed at the parliamentary meeting during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan's capital Baku.

The meeting was organised jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Azerbaijani parliament. The session explored ways in which parliaments can adopt a comprehensive approach to addressing health and climate issues, Caliber.Az report per local media.

Moreover, strategies to reduce losses in the agriculture and fishing sectors, which threaten food security and contribute to malnutrition, were discussed.

Uruguayan Senator Irene Moreira stated that climate change impacts human health both directly and indirectly. 

She noted that the risk is particularly high for the elderly and children. Climate change affects not only the quality but also the availability of food. Rising temperatures, in turn, reduce productivity in key sectors. Flooding and other climate changes also impact working conditions. 

Azerbaijani MP Parvana Valiyeva noted that according to an international group of climate change experts, rising temperatures could have a serious impact on people's lives. 

"Aside from the financial aid discussed at COP29, it is crucial to fund healthcare systems. It is also essential to allocate resources for pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response measures," she stated.

The MP emphasised that Azerbaijan faces a serious issue with the pollution of transboundary watercourses. 

"Some mining enterprises in neighbouring countries are located near transboundary river basins, and waste is being discharged into the Kura and Araz rivers, as well as other rivers in the country. This leads to public health issues, an increase in cancer cases, and harms agriculture that relies on the water from the Araz River," Valiyeva added.   

The event concluded with a Q&A session.

COP29, which is being held at Baku Stadium from November 11-22, is Azerbaijan’s most significant international event to date and the first time the country has hosted a COP conference. The summit kicked off with the signing of the Host Country Agreement and other key documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. One of the central goals of COP29 is the establishment of a New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. To further this aim, the COP29 presidency has introduced 14 key initiatives designed to integrate climate action with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

These initiatives cover a broad spectrum of critical areas, including the development of green energy corridors, energy storage solutions, climate resilience strategies, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and the promotion of green digital technologies. A flagship proposal of the conference is the creation of the Climate Finance Action Fund, which is aimed at supporting efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Throughout the event, Azerbaijan has continued to reaffirm its strong commitment to addressing climate change and promoting environmental protection. The unanimous decision to select Azerbaijan as the host for COP29 reflects the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate-related issues. In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev underscored Azerbaijan’s central role in global climate efforts, emphasizing the nation’s dedication to tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development.

By Naila Huseynova