Council on Environmental Quality: US invests billions to enhance climate resilience

Chair of the US Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory has said that billions of dollars were invested through the "Invest in America" agenda to make communities more resilient to droughts, floods, and other climate impacts. 

Mallory made these remarks during a press conference within the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

She reminded the audience that at COP28 in Dubai, the US announced its participation in the Global Freshwater Challenge, joining forces with 45 countries and the EU to protect and restore rivers and wetlands worldwide.

"Since then, the US has set a national goal to protect and restore eight million hectares of wetlands, rivers, and ravines till 2030," she noted.

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