US presidential advisor pushes for enhanced climate efforts, financial support

John Podesta, US Presidential Advisor on Climate and leader of the American delegation, called on nations worldwide to strengthen their financial commitment to climate change mitigation initiatives during the plenary session of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 13, 2024.

Podesta also called for greater assistance to be provided to the world's poorest nations, as well as for enhanced efforts towards crafting a substantive post-Paris climate agenda, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Note that, COP29, taking place from November 11 to 22 at Baku Stadium, stands as Azerbaijan’s largest and most significant international event to date. This marks the first time the country has hosted a COP summit. A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Host Country Agreement and other essential documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat.

A prominent focus at COP29 is the establishment of an ambitious and fair New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. The Presidency of COP29 has introduced 14 initiatives designed to link climate action with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

These include projects on green energy corridors, energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, reducing methane emissions from organic waste, green digital technologies, and more. Among the proposals is the establishment of a Climate Finance Action Fund, aimed at helping meet the critical target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Azerbaijan’s dedication to mitigating climate change and protecting the environment has been clearly demonstrated at COP29. The unanimous decision to select Azerbaijan as the host for this summit reflects the global community's trust and respect for the country’s leadership in climate action.

As President Ilham Aliyev remarked, this decision reflects the world’s confidence in Azerbaijan’s role in tackling climate change.

By Aghakazim Guliyev