International representatives hail Azerbaijan's hosting COP29

The international representatives have commented on Azerbaijan's election to host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29.

First Vice President of the World Meteorological Organisation in Côte d'Ivoire Daouda Konate has said that the future COP29 conference will be the venue of decision-making and actions, Report informs.

"It will be a good opportunity for Azerbaijan and other countries to come together again not just to talk, but to act. I think 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29, to be held in Azerbaijan, will be a conference of decisions and actions," he said.

Konate noted that he intends to attend COP29 and has very high expectations from the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“When I say decisions and actions, I mean that decisions will be made to define the directions for financial support to the nations suffering the most from the effects of climate change," he noted, adding that the assistance of developed countries to developing countries will allow them to be more resilient in the current conditions, to adapt to the new situation.

"Azerbaijan has a chance to create history by working on these issues and this is where decisions will be made on the allocation and proper management of the funds that many countries have pledged to contribute to the Compensation Fund for Climate Change. COP28 decided to create this fund, the next one will be the place for decisions on it," he said.

Meanwhile, winner of the Miss Environment Africa, top model, and tourism champion Judith Heard has said that she would definitely visit Azerbaijan to attend COP29.

“The fashion industry has put a lot of 'effort' into damaging the environment thus leading to climate change. COP28 participants therefore decided to organise a fashion show on the sidelines of the conference and demonstrate that all this can be avoided. Fashion can be not only attractive but also environmentally friendly.

"I come from Uganda, a country that is experiencing great hardship because of the negative effects of climate change. And we want to hear how these problems could be addressed, how the world would deal with global warming. I also want to encourage young people to take an active part in the fight against climate change. Governments and officials are not the only ones who need to tackle these complex problems," she said.

Heard said she would like to be in Azerbaijan next year for COP29: "I will definitely go. The struggle started here and now it's time to act. Where the COP goes, we will follow it".

The activist also noted that she has high hopes for Uganda's chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement.

"We will take the baton from Azerbaijan who fought for the availability of vaccines to developing countries during the pandemic. I think Uganda will actively address environmental issues during its chairmanship," she said.

Azerbaijan was officially announced the host of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29.

In his remarks, First Vice President of the World Meteorological Organisation in Côte d'Ivoire Daouda Konate has said that the future COP29 conference will be the venue of decision-making and actions.

"It will be a good opportunity for Azerbaijan and other countries to come together again not just to talk, but to act. I think COP29, to be held in Azerbaijan, will be a conference of decisions and actions," he said, Report informs.

Konate noted that he intends to attend COP29 and has very high expectations from the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“When I say decisions and actions, I mean that decisions will be made to define the directions for financial support to the nations suffering the most from the effects of climate change," he noted, adding that the assistance of developed countries to developing countries will allow them to be more resilient in the current conditions, to adapt to the new situation.

"Azerbaijan has a chance to create history by working on these issues and this is where decisions will be made on the allocation and proper management of the funds that many countries have pledged to contribute to the Compensation Fund for Climate Change. COP28 decided to create this fund, the next one will be the place for decisions on it," he said.

On Azerbaijan’s host, the Kenyan representative Joseph Nguna said that expectations from the COP in Azerbaijan are very high, it is time to move from ideas and plans to real actions.

"I support Azerbaijan as the host country of COP29. We should move from ideas and plans to real action. This is what we want to see," he noted.

The Kenyan representative underlined the necessity to move from promises to real work. "This is about climate finance, especially for developing countries. Right now we only hear promises of funding, but that is not enough. We need real funding to carry out this struggle," he said.

According to Nguna, the African countries realistically experience great hardship due to global warming and are the least protected from its effects.

“Serious discussions started in Dubai will keep going in Azerbaijan,” Amenatave V. Yauvoli, representative of Fiji said as the country was selected as the official host of COP29.

Azerbaijan will host next year the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29 and will be able to continue the discussions started at COP28 on topical issues facing humanity, Amenatave V. Yauvoli, Representative of Fiji said.

"Azerbaijan has become the next conference destination among the group of Eastern European countries, which I am very happy about. I have heard that it is a very beautiful country. I am sure that discussions on important issues will continue at COP29. The primary goal remains to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius," he noted.

Yauvoli also expressed hope that the COP29 would continue to discuss the problems of small island developing states such as Fiji.

The decision for Azerbaijan to host the COP29 conference was announced during the plenary session held on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai.

Azerbaijan confirmed the commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 per cent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 per cent by 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan.

The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been held annually since 1995. The event aims to assess the progress in combatting climate change worldwide.