BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 19. The panel discussions on “Accelerating action on climate change through regional cooperation on water, energy, food, and ecosystems” were held at COP29, Trend reports.
“Climate change is increasingly impacting the world, affecting water, food, energy, and ecosystems. These spheres are closely linked and require a holistic approach to solving the problem,” Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Umayra Taghiyeva said during the discussions.
She emphasized that water is necessary for agriculture and food security. It is also important for energy production, which is especially relevant in the context of the desire to reduce emissions and achieve the goal of keeping global warming at 1.5°C. Water is also essential for maintaining ecosystems.
“Problems of this magnitude are interconnected, and no country can tackle them alone. Regional cooperation is needed to share resources and build resilience to climate change. Using an integrated approach, we can achieve synergy that will benefit both nature and society,” Taghiyeva added.
In his turn, FAO Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Viorel Gutu stated that “currently about 730 million people suffer from hunger. The world population is expected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, and we are still far from achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). To feed everyone, food production needs to increase by 50 percent from current levels.”
Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Dmitry Maryasin stated that Central Asian countries need to cooperate on sharing water resources.
“In Central Asia, more than anywhere else, it is necessary for countries to cooperate not only on water sharing but also to take into account the relationship between water, energy, and food, clearly outlining these points at bilateral meetings of the countries of the region, so that food security is not left aside when building large dams,” he noted.
Regional cooperation, according to the UNECE representative, plays an important role in more efficient use of resources needed for energy production.
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