BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 14. At COP29, panel discussions focused on how climate change is affecting human health, with Azerbaijan appointed as a co-founder of the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) for 2024-2026, Trend reports.
During the event, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev, emphasized the need for global climate solidarity. He called on all countries to step up efforts to counter the adverse effects of climate change.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised COP29 as an ideal opportunity for the world to unite and find practical solutions.
Speaking at a panel session, Azerbaijan’s Health Minister Teymur Musaev highlighted the far-reaching and growing impact of climate change on public health and economies. Musaev noted the rising frequency of extreme weather events like floods and droughts in recent decades: “Roughly one-third of heat-related deaths are linked to climate change, and the number of climate-induced extreme weather events has increased fivefold over the past 50 years.”
The minister pointed out that extreme weather conditions provide fertile ground for infectious diseases to spread. He emphasized the need for national policies to reduce climate risks, which could help limit health and economic impacts.
“A key priority in President Ilham Aliyev’s development strategy for Azerbaijan is to turn the liberated regions of Karabakh and East Zangezur into a green energy zone,” Musaev added. “The goal is to harness renewable energy potential to supply clean energy to these areas, exploring green technologies and crafting future-forward proposals.”
The session concluded with a unanimous decision for Azerbaijan to serve as a co-founder of ATACH for 2024-2026. WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus and Health Minister Musaev noted Azerbaijan’s dedication as COP29 President to advancing the Climate and Health Continuity Coalition by joining ATACH as a co-organizer.
Leveraging the COP26 Health Program and climate-health initiatives from COP27, COP28, COP29, and the 77th World Health Assembly, ATACH stands as a crucial global partnership for advancing climate and health actions, including efforts to build climate-resilient, low-carbon healthcare systems.
In joining ATACH, Azerbaijan has pledged to work on creating a climate-resilient health system that will be essential for safeguarding public health in the face of a changing climate.
As co-organizers, WHO and Azerbaijan remain committed to collaborating with past and future COP presidencies and ATACH members to drive meaningful progress on climate and health worldwide.
