Baku, November 13, AZERTAC

The Troika High-level Dialogue: Our Roadmap to Mission 1.5 towards a future of shared prosperity was held as part of 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Addressing the event, Yalchin Rafiyev, COP29 Lead Negotiator, expressed his gratitude to the United Arab Emirates and Brazil for their consistent cooperation within COP29.

“Together, in the lead up to COP29, we have worked diligently within our mandate, and throughout the year, has followed the clear trajectory of advancing ambition, fostering political momentum and addressing key gaps in climate action,” he noted.

“The year began with official launch of Troika’s vision and approach at the Copenhagen Climate ministerial and we have convened all stakeholders in an inclusive manner by addressing all pillars of climate action, particularly in mitigation and just transition, adaptation, a forest issue, as well as on climate finance. A strong focus on NDC was evidence through workshops.

Overall, Troika has consistently sought to build synergies across global climate agendas, driving forward most ambition and financial mechanisms while addressing critical implementation challenges and enhancing the climate resilience of developing countries. The road ahead is clear, yet it's not without challenges. We must translate our ambitions into actions and our commitments into tangible achievements. I am confident that with the leadership of the Troika we can forge a future that is resilient, sustainable and equitable for all,” Yalchin Rafiyev emphasized.

Then, Yalchin Rafiyev, COP29 Lead Negotiator, read out the address of Mukhtar Babayev, President of COP29, Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, to the participants.

In his address, Mukhtar Babayev expressed his profound gratitude to the United Arab Emirates and Brazil for their strong partnership.

“Presidencies of COP28 COP29, and COP30, provides a strategic framework for stimulating ambition through enhanced international cooperation and an enabling global environment.

Assuming the presidency of COP29 is both a privilege and a significant responsibility for Azerbaijan. We have declared 2024 as the Year of Green Growth and Solidarity, reflecting our conviction that global challenges can only be overcome through collective effort and mutual support.

One of our primary strategic actions is to accelerate the implementation of NDCs. We must enhance the ambition of our commitments and translate them into concrete policies and actions. Our aim is clear: to create positive momentum toward achieving the critical target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Azerbaijan has designated the regions of Karabakh, Eastern Zangezur and Nakhchivan as Green Energy Zones. These areas possess significant potential for renewable energy including solar and hydro power. Our efforts in these regions are not only contributing to Azerbaijan's emission reduction goats but are also positioning us as a regional leader in the transition to a dean energy future. We are investing heavily in these projects, attracting substantial international interest and collaboration.

However, ambition alone is not enough. Without substantial increases in climate finance, the goals of the Paris Agreement will remain out of reach for many nations. The global community cannot afford to let the gap between ambition and Implementation widen any further,” Mukhtar Babayev added.

Speaking at the event, Marina Silva, Brazil's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said that they avoided over 400 million tons of CO2 emissions, which exceeds the annual emissions of many countries.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), noted that he left Dubai with very clear guidance on the Global Stocktake reflected in the UAE consensus.

Adnan Amin, Chief Executive Officer of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28), underlined that their expectation is to reduce emissions by 43 percent by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement goals.

Sue Biniaz, US State Department's Principal Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, expressed his gratitude for endorsing the outcome of the Global Stocktake with reference to paragraphs 28 and 33, adding that those provisions should be further operationalized in COP29.

In their remarks, Daniella Deli, Hungarian Deputy State Secretary for Climate Policy, and Achim Steiner, United Nations Development Program administrator, highlighted the work that stills need to be done to achieve the Paris Agreement's temperature goal, the implementation of Nationally determined contributions (NDCs), as well as the active efforts of the "Troika" presidency in this regard.