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D-8 Commissioner: We are stronger now with Azerbaijan’s membership

17 October 2025 17:38 (UTC +04:00)

For 30 years, D8 has functioned as a unique platform uniting member states from various geographies around common ideals such as economic cooperation, solidarity, and sustainable development, said Türkiye’s D-8 Commissioner Aylin Sekizkök at the “High-level D-8 Dialogue on Climate and Cities ” event, APA-Economics reports.

She noted that with Azerbaijan’s accession to D8, the organization has once again confirmed its relevance in a period of rapidly changing global environment: “I would like to express my special gratitude to Azerbaijan for its strong activity in D8 as well as for successfully organizing the D8 Week event. This event not only demonstrates the extra value and active commitment Azerbaijan brings to the organization but also symbolizes the renewed spirit of D8.”

Sekizkök said that the main mission of D8 is to promote sustainable, inclusive, and innovative development in member states: “However, we acknowledge that although the organization has achieved concrete progress in various fields, it has not taken sufficient steps in urban planning and climate change. In these areas, D8 has not yet reached the level it deserves.”

With Azerbaijan's accession to the organization, we now have the opportunity as a stronger D8 to take concrete and decisive steps in these directions. In this regard, Azerbaijan’s hosting of this important event following the successful hosting of COP29 last year holds special significance. We believe that the outcomes achieved at COP29 will further enhance our ability to jointly promote inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient urban futures.

She noted that Azerbaijan has already offered to host the D8-affiliated Climate and Energy Center, and Türkiye strongly supports this initiative: “In the context of global environmental challenges, we all share the responsibility to protect our future with a clear vision, strong policy, and decisive actions.

Therefore, in the new decade roadmap to be formed after the current decade roadmap is completed, climate change and urban development will be considered as separate and priority areas. We believe that aligning these efforts with the goals of D8 will not only strengthen our common resilience but also ensure that our organization remains a modern and advanced platform in shaping an inclusive and sustainable future.”