COP29 represents the last major chance to get the world back on track and hold nations accountable for delivering on their environmental targets. The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) will convene in November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Being selected to host the most important international climate event is a major achievement for the country lies in South Caucasus.
Significance of COP-29 for Azerbaijan
Baku aspiration to host the upcoming Climate Change Conference is driven by multiple factors. The first and important factor is Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev secured a fifth consecutive term in elections provides an opportunity for a fresh start of climate commitment. Azerbaijan may hope to attract renewed support from European countries and strengthen its relationship with the continent.
On December 25, 2023, Azerbaijan pronounced 2024 to be the ‘Green World Solidarity Year’ within the nation. This choice among others reflects the nation’s commitment to fortifying solidarity in combating climate change and advancing maintainable advancement.
Moreover, it will depict the positive image of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan human right records are poor in the past that worsened the relations with the west. Fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces broke out when Armenia made incursions into Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani forces bravely repelled the Armenian attack and made Garabakh freed from Armenia.
Armenian forces continue to threaten the safety and livelihoods of civilians residing in villages in Garabakh and along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
Azerbaijan always promoted peace in the region and hosting the International Conference will depict the positive image and envisage the revival of friendly relationships with the west.
Hosting COP29 on climate issues could also open opportunities to improve Azerbaijan’s relationship with Armenia by focusing on bilateral renewable projects and its a last chance for Armenia. Such confidence building soft initiatives could serve as a neutral and constructive platform to bring the two formerly warring countries together.
The Azerbaijani government moreover plans to convert the freed Garabagh and East Zangazur districts completely into a “Net-Zero Emission” Zone as a priority within the progressing recreation and improvement ventures, as well as decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent by 2050. The green vitality potential of the freed domains of Azerbaijan incorporates nearly all sorts of renewable vitality sources, including hydro, sun-based, wind, and geothermal.
Azerbaijan with its variety of landscape and cultural heritage is one of the greatest place to host COP-29. COP 29 becomes a unique platform not only for Azerbaijan to represent its initiatives in the environmental field but for sharing difficulties as well across the globe. In the conduction of COP 29, Azerbaijan can project its voice loudly and influence globally in climate change discourse.
Mr. Imran Yousaf is Mentor – Civil Services Examination, Pakistan.
