UN pledges expanded partnership with Azerbaijan on youth initiatives

The United Nations global office is prepared to expand its cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of youth policy.

Felipe Paullier, the United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Youth Affairs, made this statement during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Paullier emphasised the significance of joint efforts to further develop UN youth policy and enhance youth participation in international decision-making processes. He also affirmed that the UN global office remains committed to supporting continued collaboration with Azerbaijan in this area.

Following the meeting, Paullier visited the Youth House pavilion of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, located in the “Green” zone of COP29.

The meeting, primarily focused on discussing the increased role of youth in combating climate change, was also attended by Vladanka Andreeva, the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan.

Note that, COP29, hosted at Baku Stadium from November 11 to 22, marks Azerbaijan’s most significant international event to date and is the first COP summit held in the region. The event includes key agreements, such as the Host Country Agreement between Azerbaijan and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat.

A highlight of the summit is the World Leaders' Summit on Climate Action on November 12-13. The primary goal of COP29 is to establish an ambitious and equitable New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance.

Under the Azerbaijani COP29 Presidency, 14 strategic initiatives have been launched, linking climate action with the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives include projects on green energy corridors, advanced energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, reducing organic waste methane emissions, and green digital technology, with plans for a Climate Finance Action Fund.

Securing effective climate finance mechanisms is critical for maintaining the 1.5°C global warming threshold, a priority for Azerbaijan, which has shown a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

Azerbaijan’s selection as host, endorsed unanimously by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, underscores international trust in the nation’s leadership. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted this selection as a testament to Azerbaijan’s global standing and capabilities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev