Yalchin Rafiyev: Decisions made at COP29 to guide second decade of Paris Agreement

The decisions made in Baku will set the direction for the second decade of the Paris Agreement, Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister and Lead Negotiator of COP29 Yalchin Rafiyev said at a press conference, Report informs.

"We highly appreciate Australia's contribution of $32.5 million to the Waltham Damage Fund. At the same time, the US decision to provide $325 million in support to the Korea Technology Fund is a significant step," Rafiyev stated. "As we accelerate our work, it is crucial to maintain this positive momentum. Yesterday at the G20 summit, Brazilian President Lula da Silva emphasized the importance of fulfilling all mandates leading up to Baku. We thank President Lula da Silva for his continued support and the Troika partnership. His message that 'today's work cannot be left for tomorrow' is important to us."

The lead negotiator also touched upon the work done by the COP29 Presidency regarding the NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) and other important mandates. "The Presidency has organized numerous meetings to ensure that parties make progress both politically and technically. Technical meetings and informal discussions among ministers have been held regarding the NCQG, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and other mandates. In this process, we have worked to help parties find common ground by bringing together different opinions. Seeing the parties' willingness to reach an agreement is encouraging, but now comes the most challenging stage," he added.

One of the main issues discussed within the framework of COP29 is the preparation of the Presidency texts, Rafiyev emphasized. "These texts include the New Collective Quantified Goal, the Just Transition Work Program, the Mitigation Work Program, the Global Adaptation Goal, and the UAE Dialogue. The texts are planned to be released at midnight, and an additional text will be presented tomorrow. These documents are being prepared as a package that takes into account the concerns of all parties. However, these texts are not yet final and are open for discussion," he explained.

Rafiyev also highlighted the strategic importance of the decisions to be made in Baku for the Paris Agreement. "We have a precise and strong plan. Through the draft texts, we aim to achieve significant progress. We hope for productive discussions with all parties. These decisions will play a crucial role in shaping the second decade strategy of the Paris Agreement," the deputy minister concluded.