BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 2. COP29 to be held in Azerbaijan later this year should actively involve local representation, CEO at Romania's Smartlink Communications consulting company, analyst, consultant, and think tanker Radu Magdin told Trend.
He believes that Azerbaijan should encourage active participation from diverse stakeholders, including civil society, private sector and academia.
“In a unique cultural and geopolitical context like this country, collaboration should involve local actors. By engaging indigenous communities to ensure their voices are heard, Azerbaijan could foster inclusive dialogues that consider cultural nuances and local perspectives as well. At the same time, the country could support capacity-building initiatives to ensure effective implementation of climate commitments. Technical assistance, knowledge sharing and technology transfer can enhance collaboration, and can benefit both the local economy and the region. In addition, collaboration can also include regular progress assessments and peer reviews, in order to establish mechanisms for transparent reporting and accountability. This would position the country better from the point of view of transparency and accountability,” added Magdin.
The expert noted that one can start first by seeing what successful recipes have been applied at previous COP editions, on top of which Azerbaijani organizers can add the local charm and business experience.
“As suggested, they should actively involve local representation (local experts, NGOs and community representatives), because the insights are crucial for meaningful engagement. Then, Azerbaijani organizers can organize workshops on specific topics (e.g., renewable energy, climate change or circular economy) to facilitate focused discussions among stakeholders. If these thematic workshops also use virtual platforms to engage stakeholders who cannot attend in person, webinars, online forums and social media can increase global participation,” said Magdin.
Also, as the expert pointed out, respectful communication and understanding cultural differences are essential.
“Thus, actions can be included to raise participants' awareness of cultural norms and practices. Last but not least, the organizers should encourage youth participation. Young people bring fresh perspectives and are vital for long-term climate action, especially because the problems now being discussed concern long-term projects that will greatly affect the future of the younger generation - who need to be aware of what is happening and the solutions identified globally,” he added.
Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this November. This decision was reached during the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11, 2023. In less than two weeks, Baku is poised to become the epicenter of global climate discussions, welcoming an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 foreign delegates.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, established during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to avert perilous human interference with the climate system. COP, an acronym for Conference of Parties, signifies the highest legislative authority overseeing the Convention's implementation. Currently, 198 nations are party to the Convention. By default, COP sessions are convened annually unless otherwise decided by the participating parties. The inaugural COP convened in March 1995 in Berlin, with its secretariat headquartered in Bonn.
As Azerbaijan prepares to host COP29, it assumes a pivotal role in advancing global efforts to address climate change, underscoring the urgency and importance of international cooperation in combating environmental challenges.
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