BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 16. The Parliamentary Meeting within the framework of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Azerbaijani Parliament, has started its work in Baku, Trend reports.
Sevil Mikayilova, the Vice President of the IPU from Azerbaijan and a member of the Azerbaijani parliament, is taking part in the event.
The following sessions will be held during the meeting: "Setting the scene: understanding the real impact of climate change ", "Making climate commitments a reality: parliaments' role in raising mitigation ambition and implementing nationally determined contributions", "Unpacking the global climate finance architecture: mobilizing resources and streamlining access to climate finance," and "Enhancing resilience in the face of climate change: scaling up adaptation and strengthening local empowerment".
Addressing the event, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said that Azerbaijan has put climate action into the heart of its national plans much before being elected as the host of COP29.
"All countries in the world are being affected by climate change. Our country is no exclusion. During last decades Azerbaijan faced extreme heat, water shortages, the shrinking of the Caspian Sea and flooding. Realizing and anticipating the depth of the challenge, Azerbaijan under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev has put climate action into the heart of its national plans much before being elected as the host of COP29," she said.
The parliament speaker pointed out that, by undertaking voluntary commitments, incorporating green agenda into national development programs, implementing projects on renewable energy, establishing green energy zones, Azerbaijan has shown clear conviction and determination on its future path.
At the same time, selection of Azerbaijan as the host of COP29 is also the result of the trust of world community in Azerbaijan’s ability and experience in acting as a bridge-builder, uniting communities and countries behind a common cause.
Despite having less time than any other country for preparations – only 11 months – COP29 Azerbaijani Presidency has done tremendous work in engaging all interested parties, listening to their needs and understanding their expectations. But, unfortunately, during these preparations, our country has faced biased and groundless accusations, double standards, and disinformation campaigns by some countries and media platforms. Few national parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations have also played their miserable role in these activities," Gafarova noted.
The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Tulia Ackson said that parliamentarians bear the responsibility for the fight against climate change.
“Parliamentarians bear a significant responsibility for the fight against climate change, especially at the critical stage of climate action, connecting international agreements with their national implementation. With the power to draft and oversee legislation, we ensure that climate policies and laws are ambitious, practical, and enforceable.
We are in a unique position to monitor government action, allocate resources effectively, and mobilize public support, making climate action a priority at all levels. COP29 plays an important role by advancing the key areas needed to achieve our shared climate goals,” she said.
The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will run until November 22, opened at the Baku Olympic Stadium on November 11. It is the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date, and the first time in the region that it is being held in Azerbaijan.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for “Conference of Parties” and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
A total of 198 countries are parties to the Convention. Unless otherwise decided by the parties, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
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