COP29 president: Azerbaijan to continue its leadership in supporting transition to green economy

Azerbaijan will continue its leadership in supporting the global transition to a green economy.

The remarks came from Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and the COP29 President-Deisgnate at the Global Summit of Religious Leaders in Baku, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Anthropogenic impacts, industrialization, and rapid economic development have seriously threatened many nations, causing a rise in global temperatures and natural disasters, Babayev said.

He noted that the mentioned threats are becoming catastrophic for communities living in climate-sensitive regions: “For them, climate change is no longer a theoretical threat but a reality they face every day.”

“Changes in precipitation patterns and rising temperatures in the Congo Basin are causing serious harm to forests and rare ecosystems. Floods in Pakistan, which submerged a third of the country, the threat of destruction to communities in developing small island states, and natural disasters across different parts of the world are evidence of this reality. The experiences of these countries require us to adopt urgent and inclusive approaches and to pay attention to the challenges they face. Climate financing must be significantly increased to support people affected by this situation.”

Babayev said the COP29 presidency is taking important steps in this area, supporting actions aimed at addressing losses and damages.

He emphasized that the COP29 agenda aims to make resources more accessible for developing countries.

"Under Azerbaijan’s presidency, COP29 has put forward 14 key initiatives. Our goal is to propose new approaches and innovative solutions not only on a national but also on a global level. Through these initiatives, Azerbaijan will continue its leadership in supporting the transition to a green economy globally," he added.

By Khagan Isayev