Global delegates continue to arrive in Baku for COP29 climate summit PHOTO

On 10 November, the President of the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

The President was welcomed at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Azerbaijani Culture Minister Adil Kerimli and other officials, with the national flags of both countries displayed in honour of her visit, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Alongside Siljanovska-Davkova, the Vice President of the Republic of Angola, Esperança da Costa, and Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Michael Bizwick Usi, also arrived in Azerbaijan on the same day to participate in COP29.

They were greeted by Azerbaijani officials at the airport, including Minister of Agriculture Mejnun Mammadov, who met with da Costa, and Minister Adil Kerimli, who welcomed Usi.

These leaders joined a host of global dignitaries arriving to attend the climate conference, which will run on November 11-22. COP29 is expected to draw around 80,000 participants, including top government officials and representatives from various sectors.

Azerbaijan's successful bid to host COP29 was secured during the COP28 plenary session in December 2023, with strong backing from Eastern European nations. The event is a key milestone for Azerbaijan, which has declared 2024 the "Green World Solidarity Year," aiming to promote international cooperation on climate issues.

The conference will focus on two key areas: raising ambition in global climate action and enabling concrete steps to address the climate crisis. Central to these efforts is the introduction of the $1 billion Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF), which will allocate half of the funds to developing countries for climate-related projects. Additionally, the COP29 Presidency has launched the "COP Truce Appeal," calling for peace alongside climate action.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the significance of hosting COP29, calling it an important platform for global collaboration. He reiterated Azerbaijan's commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and 40% by 2050, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

By Tamilla Hasanova