COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev authored an article which published in the British publication The Guardian.
“In 2023, both the use of electric vehicles and the generation of coal-fired power rose globally. There were two main effects: the rise in electricity demand and the conflicts that rocked the energy markets in the Middle East and Europe. Meanwhile, it serves as a sobering reminder that to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, intentional consumption reductions as well as the production of renewable energy are required, according to the report.
He’s saying that specifically at COP29 in Azerbaijan, a step in that direction can be taken.
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“The establishment of a transitional system between COP agreements is imperative. The COP Trio of Chairs launched last month to ensure that Azerbaijan will the link in decision-making and execution from leading the 28th summit in the United Arab Emirates to the 30th in Brazil the following year. It is also essential to create a bridge between the world’s industrialized and developing regions. Because wealthy nations used more fossil fuels last year, developing nations are creating more hydrocarbons. This makes it even more urgent to transfer green technologies and provide the funding that has promised but hasn’t been received yet. Building a bridge between the divergent objectives of the global North and global South should therefore be the main objective of Azerbaijan’s COP leadership, according to Mukhtar Babayev.
The COP29 president underlined that Azerbaijan had joined the “Global Methane Commitment” to lower emissions in the energy sector.
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The fundamental work for one of the largest solar power systems in the world began last month on ground cleared of landmines. As such, this project is part of a wider initiative for post-conflict reconstruction. The economy will shift from exporting gas and oil to producing renewable energy and sending it to our neighbours and the European Union via the proposed Caspian-Black Sea Green Energy Corridor. This will achieved by harnessing 157 GW of offshore wind power in addition to the advancement of solar and hydropower. Azerbaijan has the financial resources to implement this shift. However, foreign investment also plays a significant role in this transformation. Success elsewhere in the world will depend far more on international climate money. The article states that cooperation pledges made in Dubai by governments, businesses, and international organizations have to honoured.
Mukhtar Babayev emphasized that during the past two years, Europe has shown how quickly an energy transition can accomplished if there is political will by diversifying the sources of natural gas supplies with Azerbaijan’s help.
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“This shows how important it is for Azerbaijan, and any other country that would accept COP29, to serve as a bridge between the developed and developing regions of the world. This confidence must restored, as failure to do so may impede rather than advance efforts to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Rebuilding trust would aided by defining a new funding target for climate change that would be verified by the troika mechanism and at the upcoming two COPs.
This should serve to highlight the severity and breadth of the climate disaster and—above all—send these funds right away to the countries that most need them. For those who doubt that this possible with policies geared at building trust, there is one thing to know about Azerbaijan’s presidency. Azerbaijan and Armenia took proactive steps in December to promote mutual trust. While Azerbaijan supported Armenia’s bid for the Eastern European Group COP Bureau, Armenia voluntarily withdrew its candidacy for the COP in favour of Azerbaijan,” the article states.
