Historic moment: Iranian, Israeli leaders to participate simultaneously at COP29 in Baku

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to visit Azerbaijan to attend the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

Pezeshkian will be leading the Iranian delegation at this global climate summit, which will be held in Baku, Caliber.Az reports citing Azad Iran channel on Telegram.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has also confirmed his participation in COP29, marking a rare occurrence where the leaders of both Iran and Israel will be attending the same international event. Herzog will represent Israel at this significant climate conference, highlighting its importance on the global stage.

Azerbaijan was unanimously selected as the host for COP29 during the COP28 plenary session on December 11, 2023, following collective backing from Eastern European countries. This event is expected to draw around 80,000 participants, including top-level state and government officials from across the world.

In anticipation of COP29, Azerbaijan has declared 2024 as the “Green World Solidarity Year,” with a focus on fostering global cooperation to tackle the challenges of climate change. The COP29 Presidency's strategy revolves around two key pillars: increasing ambition and enabling action. These pillars emphasize the importance of transparent national climate plans and mobilizing finance to turn those ambitions into real-world results, from reducing emissions to addressing climate-related damage.

Azerbaijan has also launched a $1 billion Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF), with contributions from fossil fuel-producing countries and companies. Half of the fund’s capital will go toward supporting climate projects in developing countries, with a focus on clean energy, energy efficiency, and enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities.

In a broader peace-building effort, the COP29 Presidency has introduced the “COP Truce Appeal,” aimed at fostering global peace, dialogue, and reconciliation in the context of climate action.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev previously emphasized the significance of hosting COP29, which will allow the nation to rally both national and global efforts to address the severe impacts of climate change. Baku has committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and further reducing them to 40% by 2050, in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement signed in 2016.

By Tamilla Hasanova