Road to COP29 Conference underway in Seoul

The trust placed in Azerbaijan to host and chair COP29 this year is a recognition of the country's readiness to take a leading role in advancing the climate agenda and make a significant contribution to global efforts to combat climate change, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to South Korea Ramin Hasanov said on October 16 in Seoul at the Road to COP29 conference organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Report informs.

"My country attaches utmost importance to environmental security, eco-sustainability and green growth. One of my country's long-term strategic goals is the transition from a carbon economy to a green economy. In this context, the clean environment and green growth have been determined as top priorities in Azerbaijan to any certain national priorities for socio-economic development. My country is also experiencing the negative consequences of climate change, which challenges achieving our ecological objectives. We face extreme heat, water scarcity, declining water levels in the Caspian Sea, desertification and all the challenges that pose a direct impact on our lives and livelihoods. Moreover, water pollution as well as the massive contamination of Azerbaijan's liberated territories with mines and explosive devices by Armenia continues to hinder the achievement of our long-term environmental targets," said the diplomat.

"Climate change is not a future risk. It's a real and present danger to billions of people around the world. The global climate crisis threatens the case of progress, impairs humanity's future, and disproportionately affects vulnerable countries. Growing divisions in international relations shouldn't distract us from the imperative to address climate change, the greatest national challenge of the century.

Of course, the countries can't solve the climate crisis alone, and what has been done so far remains insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5
degrees Celsius. For the sake of the future, the time has come for urgent, concerted and sustained efforts to give effect to our commitments to a global vision for sustainable development. Climate action is a common commitment that requires action and leadership from everyone."

"Azerbaijan will host COP29 in November 2024 in Baku and guided by the call in solidarity for a green world, Azerbaijan's personal effort to bridge developing
countries and foster a collaborative spirit to tackle climate challenge as common commitment and moral duty. COP29 will be the first event to be hosted in the
Caucasus and we are honored to represent our country to the world. The confidence placed in us by the international community to host and preside over COP29 this year is a testament and recognition of Azerbaijan's readiness to lead the climate agenda and contribute to global climate action. As presidency, Azerbaijan reaffirms its commitment to delivering COP29 in a transparent, impartial, inclusive way. We are also fully committed to inclusivity throughout the process, and we'll need to work in harmony in multiple cross-cutting dimensions," Hasanov noted.

The conference in Seoul was also attended by Alanoud Alhaj Al Ali, acting assistant undersecretary of the Green Development & Climate Change Sector, at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), who noted that her country is actively negotiating with the COP29 and COP30 (Brazil) representations within the "COP Troika."

"Now, beyond the negotiations or the COP28 delivered outcomes, we're also engaged with Baku and Brazil in the Troika events, and we support definitely when it comes to ensuring the continuity of the legacy of climate finance. Hopefully, in Baku we will see this taken forward, especially since we are expecting a quantifiable goal on climate finance to come out of the COP29, InshaAllah," she said.

She also reminded that a Loss and Damage Fund has been created: "During COP28, His Excellency President Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber continued building momentum to support those on the front lines of the climate crisis. A total of $792 million has been pledged for loss and damage funding arrangements, and $662 million is for the fund including $100 million from the United Arab Emirates," she said.

The event was attended by leading climate experts along with officials, who emphasized the need for immediate action in the fight against climate change. They stressed that the world community cannot postpone measures for adaptation and reduction of harmful emissions, as the consequences of climate change are becoming more tangible and destructive. Experts also called for strengthening international cooperation and intensifying financial support for vulnerable countries to cope with climate challenges and minimize the damage already caused by global environmental changes.