Azerbaijan – how the host of COP29 is tackling climate change

The COP global climate conference series builds anticipation around the world for action that might secure the future of our planet. Especially for the country hosting the conference this year, Azerbaijan. In this context, a group of Young European Ambassadors organised an event “Azerbaijan: The Host Country of COP29” as part of the COP29 Online Event Series.

For those who could not join us online, this blog post will guide you through the selection criteria for COP host countries, Azerbaijan’s climate impact, its progress, and mitigation plans. 

During the event, Azerbaijani Young European Ambassador and Former UN SDG3 Ambassador, Aygun Talibova, shared her insights, which we’ll explore further in this article.

Selection criteria for host country and role

The host country for COP meetings usually rotates among five United Nations regional groups: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Western Europe and Others. To decide which country will host, regional group members discuss and choose a country to make a formal offer to the UN.

Once a country is selected, it sends an official request to host the conference. The UN team then visits to ensure the country can handle the logistics, financial demands, and technical needs. After approval, the host country provides the venue, equipment, and services, including translation in six UN languages, to ensure smooth communication during the event.

For Azerbaijan, hosting COP29 represented more than just logistics. It was about bringing the world’s attention to the country’s environmental journey and showcasing its progress on renewable energy and sustainability. Aygun Talibova, reflecting on Azerbaijan’s role, expressed her excitement as a young Azerbaijani :

“Hosting COP29 is a huge opportunity to showcase our commitment to tackling climate change on a global platform. I believe hosting COP29 will also help to bring youth perspectives to the forefront, emphasising the sustainable future for our generation and those to come.”

How Azerbaijan impacts climate and how climate impacts Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a rich country in terms of nature, being the home to nine out of the 11 climate zones in the globe. Due to global warming, Azerbaijan is at risk of suffering devastating environmental challenges that directly affect the country’s economy. The climate projections indicate that temperatures will increase by 1.4-2.8ºC by 2050, natural disasters will increase, especially floods, and the Caspian sea level will rise by 1.5-2m by 2050. Some of the key sectors that are affected by climate change include agriculture (loss of arable land), water resources (risk of floods), human health, tourism, damage to coastal resources and infrastructure. Azerbaijan is one of the most flood-prone regions worldwide.

Addressing these challenges is critical, and Azerbaijan has already made strides. Aygun shared her insights on the country’s climate commitments:

“Azerbaijan is taking steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050, with a goal to increase the share of renewable energy to 30% by 2030. This is part of a broader strategy to diversify our energy system and set a strong example for other nations.”

Progress and mitigation plans

There is no doubt about the horrific effects of climate change on Azerbaijan, and no doubt about Azerbaijan’s willingness to improve the situation by adopting more and more green alternatives. As with any other task, you first need to set your goal: Azerbaijan’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050 and increase renewable power capacity by 30% by 2030. To achieve this goal, the country needs to work in all sectors. Azerbaijan’s wind capacity is a very fruitful resource, being able to produce wind power both onshore and offshore, and projects and partnerships in this regard are underway with companies such as ACWA Power and Masdar. Given the geographic location of Azerbaijan, power generated from sunshine is also on the table, with the country boasting 2,400-3,200 hours of sunshine every year. At the moment, hydropower is already being used, covering 10% of the country’s domestic annual electricity generation, the biggest hydro power plant in the country being the Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Plant. For the future, Azerbaijan hopes also to bring the dynamic green hydrogen sector to life, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

But Azerbaijan’s ambitions don’t stop there. As Aygun emphasised, collaboration with global partners is essential:

“The partnership between Azerbaijan and the EU reflects a shared commitment to protecting the environment. This collaboration involves sustainable forest management, improved water systems, and joint efforts on climate policies. Addressing climate change is a collective effort, and multidisciplinary, multilateral collaborations are key to effective action.”

Impact of youth

As with any other progress oriented initiative, the voice of youth needs to be heard. COP29 was no  exception, organising just the week before the big conference, the Conference of Youth (COY). The event’s objective was to empower youth and formally bring their voices to the UNFCCC processes to shape intergovernmental climate change policies. This year the 19th edition of COY also happened in Baku.

In a nutshell, global events on climate topics are essential to draw media attention and the public eye towards a more sustainable future. Bringing communities, from youth to elderly together, is our only way out of the climate crisis. #strongertogether.

Sources:

https://cop29.az/en/sustainability/energy-transition-initiatives

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/2017_USAID_Climate%20Change%20Risk%20Profile_Azerbaijan.pdf

https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2018-10/factsheet_eu_support_to_environment_azerbaijan.pdf