BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 21. It is necessary to develop data exchange mechanisms that will take into account the unique role of each climate convention and ensure their integration, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Umayra Taghiyeva said during a high-level dialog on “Enhancing knowledge exchange between conventions to ensure ecosystem sustainability” of the Rio Trio (Colombia, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia) initiative within COP29 in Azerbaijan's Baku, Trend reports.
“As Chairs of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 16), we realize that the challenges we face know no borders and require a multidisciplinary approach. To succeed, it is necessary not to act in isolation but to harmonize efforts across the conventions, finding common solutions. This brings us to an important question: why is synergy critical to our common mission? Working together across several conventions demonstrates that combined efforts produce results far greater than the sum of individual actions.
Joint initiatives, such as the integration of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, can deliver benefits that simultaneously meet multiple Sustainable Development Agenda goals. A key area for creating such synergies is data harmonization and knowledge sharing. We must develop data-sharing mechanisms that recognize the unique role of each convention and ensure their integration. Such a platform should include clear, agreed metrics and indicators to track progress on climate change, biodiversity, and land restoration. By harmonizing approaches across conventions, we can avoid duplication, simplify reporting processes, and ensure mutual support for our efforts,” she noted.
To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will last until November 22, was opened at the Baku Olympic Stadium on November 11. The event is the largest organized by Azerbaijan to date and is the first time the region has hosted the event in Azerbaijan.
The main expectation from COP29 is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) means “Conference of Parties” and is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
A whopping 198 countries have thrown their hats in the ring as parties to the Convention. Unless the parties decide to change the game plan, COP takes place once a year. The inaugural COP event took place in March 1995 in the bustling city of Berlin, Germany, with its secretariat nestled in Bonn.
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