BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 12. The Secretariat's functions, currently carried out by the UN, should be relocated to one of the Caspian countries, the Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Special Assignments Khalaf Khalafov told reporters on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku, Trend reports.
Khalafov asserts that the Caspian Sea is facing significant environmental challenges.
"The Azerbaijani side has consistently highlighted this issue, and at the Ashgabat summit, a significant milestone was reached with the first call for a more elevated approach among the Caspian states to address environmental challenges in the Caspian Sea, particularly concerning the decreasing water levels," he noted.
The Representative said that these issues continue to hold significant relevance today.
"The declining water levels of the Caspian Sea pose a significant threat to the countries bordering it, particularly the major cities along the coast. Consequently, these nations must take proactive measures to protect the Caspian ecosystem, safeguard its biodiversity, and promote initiatives aimed at conserving its water surface.
To effectively address this issue, a concerted effort in cooperative activities is essential, coupled with a commitment to enhance financial investments in environmental protection. A key aspect of this collaboration should include the establishment of a permanent secretariat for a multilateral convention dedicated to monitoring the Caspian Sea's environmental health. While the United Nations is currently fulfilling this role, the secretariat must be transitioned to one of the Caspian countries, ensuring more localized oversight and engagement.
The Caspian nations must work together to strengthen the operations of this secretariat, placing a heightened focus on the environmental challenges facing the sea. One of the most pressing concerns is the issue of external pollution. It is vital to conduct thorough studies on the watersheds that flow into the Caspian Sea, as understanding these dynamics is crucial for implementing effective solutions to protect this invaluable resource," Khalafov added.
To note, 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 on November 11 at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
The event is the largest organized by Azerbaijan to date and is the first time the region has hosted the event in Azerbaijan. Within COP29, the highest-level event - the summit of world leaders on climate action - will be held on November 12–13.
The main expectation from COP29 is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. The COP29 chairmanship has launched 14 initiatives that include linkages between climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals, including green energy corridors, green energy storage, harmony for climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction in organic waste, action on green digital technologies, and other topics.
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