BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 16. The number of Azerbaijani enterprises applying to join the UN Climate Change Programme "UN Global Compact" is growing, Representative of "UN Global Compact" in Azerbaijan Samir Mammadov told Trend.
"This United Nations initiative is active in 167 different countries. Among its functions is the investigation of corporate influence on four fronts: environmental protection, human rights, efficient work organization, and the fight against corporate corruption. In connection with holding COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024, attention from Azerbaijani companies to participation in this program has increased," Mammadov noted.
According to him, more than 50 structures - from large holdings and companies (SOCAR, AZAL, Azerbaijan Railways, Baku International Port, Azercell and others) to small businesses - are currently participants in this program, which helps sustainable business development in the country.
"Those who have international ambitions, as well as a willingness to be responsible in all four areas, seek to join the program. Once a year, these companies submit sustainability reports. This is how they become the best version of themselves," Mammadov noted.
He said that, UN Global Compact experts advise companies on what they need to do in terms of marketing for an efficient business that meets global standards.
"For example, for companies operating in the aviation, logistics, and financial sectors, reports on business sustainability and adherence to the norms of Western regulators are mandatory. I think that for these areas of the economy, participation in COP29 is a necessity," Mammedov believes.
Within the framework of the upcoming COP29, the UN Global Compact will organize a negotiation platform for business in Azerbaijan.
''In general, at this Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on May 11–24, the status of documents adopted at previous COP conferences will be discussed,'' Mammadov said.
"The main topic will be climate finance, and different instruments will be presented," Mammadov added.
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