ICESCO unveils strategy to combat climate change during cop29

Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) Salim bin Mohammed Almalik has said that the ICESCO strategy for combating climate change aims to combine traditional wisdom with modern technologies to promote sustainable development.

He made these remarks during an event within COP29, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The ICESCO director-general emphasised that the strategy consists of five key components: climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, water resource management, soil health protection, and ensuring sustainable agriculture.

It focuses on applying socio-cultural protection to enrich cultural structures and support rural communities.

Almalik further added that a pilot project will be launched to explore how this strategy can be implemented in member states.

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