Secretary General attended COP29 in Baku

Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er took part at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held on 11-24 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The major UN climate conference, held in 1995 for the first time, welcomed over 72,000 participants from nearly 200 countries. The opening ceremony held on 12 November was attended by heads of state and government, delegations of the Parties, guests of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, heads of the United Nations and related organizations and specialized agencies, parliamentarians, and representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivered keynote speeches at the opening ceremony of the Leaders’ Summit. The event also featured remarks from other prominent dignitaries, highlighting the urgency of global collaboration in addressing climate challenges and advancing sustainable development goals. COP29 featured a series of high-level meetings, discussions, events, and interactive sessions, including specialized panels and workshops. These activities addressed critical climate issues and explored innovative solutions to achieve sustainable development and global climate goals. Youth forums played a pivotal role, fostering dialogue and empowering the young generation to contribute to climate action. On 16-17 November, a Parliamentary Meeting was held within the framework of COP29. The two-day Meeting co-organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, brought together over 300 parliamentarians and experts from over 60 countries who exchanged views and ideas on parliamentary action to address the climate emergency. Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er also took part in the Parliamentary Meeting and was accompanied by the Secretary of Commission on Environment, Natural Resources and Health Protection Aynura Abutalibova. At the official opening, Sahiba Gafarova, TURKPA Chairperson-in-Office, Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Tulia Ackson, IPU President and Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, delivered welcoming remarks. Meeting sessions featured climate negotiations to further amplify the voice of parliaments in international climate decision-making. In the final outcome document, the parliamentarians agreed to encourage governments to invest more in accelerating the transition to clean, in particular renewable energy, as well as efforts for transition towards clean energy systems through gradual transition from fossil fuels and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies in a just, orderly and equitable manner. On 24 November, the final plenary session of COP29 concluded with the adoption of significant decisions and agreements aimed at advancing global climate action. Key outcomes included, among others, the adoption of the New Climate Finance Framework, operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, strengthened National Commitments, progress on Carbon Market Mechanisms, key guidelines of which were finalized under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to improve transparency and implementation of international carbon credit trading systems. The session underscored the urgency of collaborative efforts and accountability to address the climate crisis effectively. These outcomes reflect the conference’s commitment to driving forward meaningful climate action globally. UNFCCC is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. There are now 198 Parties to the Convention. The Conference of Parties (COP) is the highest body that oversees the implementation of the Convention and is held annually unless the Parties decide otherwise.