Leaders from the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu arrive in Azerbaijan for COP29

The President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, has arrived in Azerbaijan to attend the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

 She was welcomed by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov, and other officials at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

Similarly, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Feleti Teo, arrived in Azerbaijan to participate in the same high-level climate conference.

Like President Heine, Prime Minister Teo was greeted at the airport by Minister Gayibov and other Azerbaijani officials, marking the beginning of his official visit.

Both leaders are set to join global discussions on climate change, as COP29 gathers world leaders, policymakers, and environmental experts to address urgent climate issues.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan on November 11-22. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary session in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

COP29 is a pivotal opportunity to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis. During two weeks, Baku will welcome around 70,000 to 80,000 international guests, including leaders from governments, business and civil society to advance concrete solutions to the record-high global temperatures, and extreme weather events affecting people around the globe.

A key focus of COP29 will be on finance, as trillions of dollars are required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change.

The conference will also be a key moment for countries to present their updated national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement, which are due by early 2025. If done right, these plans will limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and double as investment plans advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

By Vafa Guliyeva