APA News Agency interviewed Vladanka Andreeva, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Azerbaijan
- This November, Azerbaijan will host the high-level climate talks COP29. It is quite a big event; thousands of participants attend this conference. Last year, in Dubai, between 50,000 and 100,000 people participated in the conference. Now, there is a question we often hear: Is Baku's capacity enough to welcome this number of people? What is your opinion on this issue?
- Baku has made significant investments in its infrastructure over the years, enhancing its capacity to host large-scale international events. With a history of successfully organizing major gatherings such as the European Games and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Baku is well-prepared to accommodate the influx of participants expected at COP29. The city's modern conference facilities, hotels, and transportation network are equipped to manage the logistics of such a significant event. Additionally, the Azerbaijani government is committed to ensuring that all necessary arrangements are in place to welcome and support the thousands of delegates who will attend. From the UN end, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC), as the custodian of the climate conference, provides essential logistical and content support to the COP 29 presidency, to ensure a successful conference.
- COP28 closed with an agreement that signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, and I would say it is a milestone. So, what are the expectations from COP29?
- Following the milestone agreement at COP28, which signaled the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, COP29 is expected to build on this momentum. Key expectations include concrete actions and commitments to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, enhanced climate financing for developing countries, and strengthened policies for reducing emissions. Additionally, there will be a focus on transparency and accountability in implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The aim is to ensure that all countries are making measurable progress toward the goals set in the Paris Agreement.
Additionally, while global expectations for COP 29 are high, the UN team in Azerbaijan also sees this as an opportunity. Hosting COP 29 in Baku offers a chance to leverage the positive momentum and elevate Azerbaijan's climate action ambitions.
- How the UN will support Azerbaijan to ensure a successful COP 29
- We are working on three parallel tracks to ensure the success of COP 29. Firstly, my colleagues from the UNFCC are working closely with COP 29 Presidency team on the organisational aspects of the climate conference.
Secondly, the COP 29 presidency has explicitly requested coordinated support from the United Nations. In response, we have activated a UN Global Task Force for COP 29, which I co-chair with Mr. Selwin Hart, the Special Advisor on Climate Action to the Secretary-General. This task force, comprising 25 UN entities, brings together the collective expertise within the UN ecosystem to support the COP 29 presidency's initiatives.
Finally, the UN Country Team in Azerbaijan, consisting of 18 agencies, has developed an engagement strategy for events leading up to and during COP 29. A flagship initiative of this strategy is the "29 Climate Conversations" series. In partnership with Amcham, ADA University, and Pasha Holding, we have organized 15 Climate Conversations so far to raise public awareness about the importance of COP 29 and climate action.
These coordinated efforts demonstrate our commitment to making COP 29 a pivotal event in the global fight against climate change.
- It is a fact that women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change. For this reason, women also should actively participate in the process - decision-making and taking practical steps in climate actions. According to experts, there are problems in Azerbaijan in this area. What is your view on this claim, and how can the UN encourage Azerbaijan to take more bold steps in this direction?
- Women indeed face disproportionate impacts from climate change, and their active participation in climate decision-making and action is crucial.
Under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2021-2025), the Gender-Equitable Society that Empowers Women and Girls is one of the four priority areas of cooperation. In line with the national development priorities and Azerbaijan’s international commitments, we are providing policy advocacy support, to develop policies that counter discrimination and challenge stereotypes on gender roles; policies that are directed at improving women’s representation in the workforce, combating negative perceptions on women’s role in society, eliminating all forms of violence and harmful traditional practices against women and girls.
We have also facilitated the strengthening of the national institutions’ capacities to better address the needs of women and girls, including through improved availability of data on different dimensions of gender equality. Our joint efforts to sensitize both the decision-makers and the local communities have led to the expansion of the network of champions for gender equality.
As part of this larger framework, we also work with partners in Azerbaijan to ensure gender inclusivity in climate policies and initiatives. UN Azerbaijan very much welcomed the appointment of Ms. Nigar Arpadarai as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, as well as the nomination of Ms Leyla Hasanova as the Youth Climate Champion. My team and I work very closely with both Ms. Arpadari and Ms. Hasanova to support them in their respective roles.
- One of the SDGs pillars is the transition to renewable energy. Azerbaijan's renewable energy potential promises multiple advantages for the country and the region. My question is how the UN assesses Azerbaijan's government policy in utilizing those energy resources.
- The UN acknowledges Azerbaijan's significant potential in renewable energy, which offers multiple advantages for both the country and the region. “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development” and the "Strategy of Socio-Economic Development in 2022-2026" identified a clean environment and a country of “green growth” as one of the five priority directions of the country’s development up to 2030.
The adoption of the Law on renewable energy coupled with large-scale renewable energy projects that are now in progress, are expected to significantly boost the share of renewables in the coming years. A target has been set to increase the installed capacity of renewable energy to 30% of the country’s overall energy balance by 2030 (from the current 17%). Moreover, hosting COP29 in Baku presents a unique opportunity for the country to showcase its progress, engage with international partners, and catalyze further action towards achieving its "green" growth objectives. By capitalizing on these initiatives and commitments, Azerbaijan can reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons, and pave the way for a more environmentally friendly and resilient future.
The UN also provides crucial support to accelerate the country's transition to a "green" growth agenda by facilitating policy development, capacity building, and implementation of climate-resilient strategies.
- Ambitious climate commitments and their implementation are important. As we know, countries across the world have made commitments in this regard. But the issue is that some are taking this problem more seriously, and some are not. My question is, what do you think? Are Azerbaijan's commitments sufficient? What can be done more?
- Azerbaijan has made notable commitments to addressing climate change. To enhance its climate action, Azerbaijan’s next iteration of the National Determined Contributions should be economy-wide, with an effort to further increase investments in renewable energy, and improve climate resilience in vulnerable communities. The UN can support these efforts by offering technical assistance, facilitating access to climate finance, and promoting regional cooperation on climate initiatives. Encouraging transparent monitoring and reporting of progress will also be key to ensuring that commitments translate into tangible outcomes.
Photo - Ilkin Nabiyev ©️ APA GROUP
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
