Sultan Hajiyev: Azerbaijan with Africa for progress both before and after COP29

COP29 must be a force multiplier and integrator, bringing together countries that have historically had limited connections and partnerships, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Kenya Sultan Hajiyev wrote in an article published in Standard, Report informs.

As for preparations for hosting COP29 in Baku in November of this year, he noted that central to Azerbaijan's approach is the principle of inclusivity.

"COP29 is not just for a select few: it is for all of us and by all of us. Inclusivity is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do. By ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives are heard and respected, we can forge stronger alliances and achieve more impactful outcomes in the battle against climate change than we ever could alone," the diplomat said.

Hajiyev also noted that the Negotiating Team of the COP29 Presidency is actively engaged with a diverse array of partners and negotiating groups, "recognizing that collective action is paramount to success."

"In our pursuit of unity, we seek to bridge divides between the Global South and the Global West. COP29 must be a force multiplier and integrator, bringing together countries that have historically had limited connections and partnerships. One such example is the burgeoning partnership between Azerbaijan and Kenya," he said.

"While our countries have enjoyed good relations in the past, we recognize the need to strengthen our collaboration, particularly in light of Kenya's pivotal role in addressing climate change.

According to the diplomat, such events like COP29 or the recent sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) are important examples of how the nations of the world can coordinate their environmental protection efforts in a collective way.

He noted that Azerbaijan would be glad to join efforts with Kenya to strengthen their influence and achieve remarkable progress both ahead of COP29 and after it.

"But this isn’t simply a mission for Kenya and Azerbaijan: the countries of the developed world need to do their part by doing more to provide Kenya –and, indeed, Africa more broadly– with greater access to funding, technology transfer, and capacity-building support to enhance its climate change efforts," he said.