UNDP Azerbaijan Takes Strides Towards Climate Action at COP28

For the first time in its history, the United Nations Development Programme in Azerbaijan participated in the annual United Nations climate change conference, known as the Conference of the Parties or COP. At this year's event, the Energy and Environment Portfolio, featuring the EU4Climate and GCF-funded National Adaptation Plan (NAP) projects, represented UNDP Azerbaijan at the Azerbaijan Country Pavilion of COP28.

The EU4Climate initiative and the NAP project mark significant milestones in accelerating Azerbaijan's commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

As a part of the event, Mr. Nazim Mammadov, the EU4Climate National Coordinator, and Mr. Zaur Aliyev, the NAP Project Manager, delivered a presentation titled “Azerbaijan's climate change actions for the sustainable future.”

“Engaging in COP28 provides us with the opportunity to showcase Azerbaijan's efforts in climate change adaptation and mitigation on the global stage, as well as to exchange experiences with other nations”, Mr Aliyev stressed.        

During his speech, Mr. Mammadov highlighted the pivotal role of the EU4Climate project in Azerbaijan, engaging in modeling for priority sectors and exploring various development scenarios.

“A significant milestone achieved under the EU4Climate project is the development of a gender-sensitive, long-term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) aligned with the targets set in the NDC”, he shared the achievements and lessons learned from the implementation of the EU4Climate project in Azerbaijan.

The presentation was delivered during the COP28 side event organized jointly by UNDP Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The event saw opening speeches by Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, and Mr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, the UNDP Executive Coordinator and Director-Environmental Finance for Nature, Climate, and Energy. Mr. Nuri Ozbagdatli, the Climate Change Specialist for the Europe and Central Asia Region, joined the session as the main speaker.

“The partnership between UNDP and Azerbaijan has been instrumental in fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and capacity building in various domains related to climate action”, Mr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya said in his speech: “Together, over the last 30 years, UNDP has partnered with Azerbaijan with support from numerous donors, especially GEF and GCF, to implement projects that promote sustainable development, protect biodiversity, and empower communities to adapt to and mitigate the changing climate.”

EU4Climate and NAP projects pave the way for comprehensive, low-emission and climate-resistant development of Azerbaijan.

The NAP project supports the Government of Azerbaijan in three key sectors – water, agriculture, and coastal areas, identified as top priorities through stakeholder consultations conducted by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. This complements the EU4Climate project's focus on policy development and implementation to ensure the concerns of these sectors are heard at policy-making tables.

The participation of UNDP Azerbaijan projects at the global COP28 event highlights their dedication to the Paris Agreement and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Azerbaijan is taking decisive action to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases it emits into the atmosphere. It has pledged to cut emissions by 35% by 2030 and reaffirmed its commitment to achieve a 40% reduction by 2050 by harnessing its vast potential for renewable energy generation and enhancing natural carbon sequestration via sustainable land and forest management. Upholding and actively implementing the commitments made in the Paris Agreement is currently a top priority for the Government of Azerbaijan.