Azerbaijan to support African countries in climate diplomacy

Azerbaijan has pledged to support African countries in the field of climate diplomacy, Report informs.

The announcement was made during a high-level event held as part of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. On the opening day of the UNGA high-level week, Joint Working Groups were established between the COP29 Baku Climate and Peace Action Hub and the governments of Chad and Guinea-Bissau.

The event, titled "Baku Hub Partnership: Innovative Solutions for Conflict-Affected and Vulnerable Countries," was organized by the COP29 Presidency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at the UN Headquarters. It brought together over 100 government officials, UN leaders, and representatives of international organizations.

In opening remarks, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Marco Rusconi, UN Special Representative for Africa Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and IOM Deputy Director General Ugochi Daniels emphasized that the Baku Hub, initiated by Azerbaijan, marks a new direction in global climate diplomacy. It integrates climate change, peacebuilding, and climate-induced migration into a unified agenda and provides a unique platform for impactful projects in vulnerable regions.

Environment ministers from Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia, and Uganda expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan's shared expertise and highlighted the importance of launching urgent projects in their countries through the Baku Hub partnership.

Elshad Iskandarov, Ambassador-at-Large of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that the Hub is moving into the implementation phase of its projects. A memorandum establishing Joint Working Groups between the Baku Hub and Chad and Guinea-Bissau was formally adopted during the event.

Several additional countries also expressed interest in joining the Baku Hub partnership.