In anticipation of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom are intensifying their cooperation in the fight against climate change, adaptation and mitigation efforts. In an exclusive interview with Report, Nick Baker, Head of the COP29 Unit at British Embassy Baku, shared his thoughts on the significance of COP sessions in the global battle against climate change and the key tasks that need attention during the preparations for COP29.
Baker also discussed how the United Kingdom, which hosted COP26, is sharing its experience with Azerbaijan in organizing the upcoming conference.
- What is the impact of climate change on global economies, and what are the losses to the world economy? How would you characterize the importance of COP sessions?
- The transition to a zero-carbon economy offers huge opportunities. New industries need to be created, generating new jobs. And the cost of addressing climate change is a fraction of the cost of not addressing it. As we are seeing, the effects of climate change can be devastating. From droughts to floods, and wildfires to hurricanes, rising global temperatures are leading to more frequent, more extreme weather-related events. There are less obvious impacts too. For example, changing weather patterns are altering the spread of disease and animal migration routes, all of which can have economic consequences. Often, that impact is most severe on developing economies.
The COP sessions are critically important. They are the only multilateral process that bring together all UN member states. Climate change is a global challenge that needs a global response. Through the COP sessions, the World agrees how to tackle climate change, from making commitments to reducing emissions, to adapting to its impacts, and reporting progress. At their heart, COPs are negotiations between governments, but they have now become fora for climate action across society, bringing together businesses, civil society, academia, and others as well.
- How does the UK plan to collaborate with Azerbaijan on environmental and climate-related issues leading up to and during COP29?
- Well before Azerbaijan took on the COP Presidency, the UK was a long-standing energy partner. As both our countries transition away from fossil fuels, that partnership is continuing. UK companies are investing in large-scale renewable energy in Azerbaijan, and we are sharing our experience of the move away from oil and gas in the North Sea, primarily towards offshore wind. Fifty British clean energy companies are operating in the market, at the forefront of addressing energy production, clean power, and diversification to support Azerbaijan in its energy transition. The British Council is also working with British and Azerbaijani education institutions to develop green skills and qualifications. A couple of weeks ago, I was awarding prizes to Young Climate Champions for inspiring innovations to tackle water scarcity.
And as host of COP26 in Glasgow, we are sharing our experience of holding the biggest international summit. Since last December, when Azerbaijan was named as host of COP29, there has been intensive engagement between our two countries. President Aliyev attended the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace. Azerbaijan’s COP President designate has had an audience of his Majesty The King, and met members of our new government. Members of the UK’s COP26 team have visited Baku, including former COP President, Alok Sharma. London Climate Action Week is one of the main climate events of the calendar, and the Azerbaijani COP29 team used it to present the priorities for November’s summit to a global climate audience. One of the people involved in organising London Climate Action Week is helping to organise the inaugural Baku Climate Action Week, which takes place next week. For COP29 itself, we expect a large high-level UK government delegation, as well as many UK business and civil society representatives. In short, there is strong interest across UK society in collaborating with Azerbaijan on climate and nature.
- What are the key priorities and objectives for the UK at COP29, especially concerning global climate change efforts?
- We had an election in the UK in July. This brought in a new, Labour government, and one of its core missions is to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with zero carbon electricity by 2030. It has also made climate and nature priorities. Many of the leading members have a long and personal commitment to these issues. Our Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, who will represent the UK in the COP negotiations, did the equivalent role in a previous Labour government, sixteen years ago. Our new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, spoke passionately last week about his conservation work, in his lecture on the climate and nature emergency at Kew Gardens.
For COP29, we strongly support the priorities that the Azerbaijani Presidency has set. Finance is key to both the transition to a low carbon economy, and adapting to climate change, so agreeing a new goal for climate finance is crucial. Enabling Article 6 of the Paris convention to be implemented, setting up an international carbon market, would significantly increase the flow of finance. Countries need to make new commitments to reduce emissions by the end of February, and demonstrating early, ambitious ones that are 1.5 aligned will help build momentum. 1.5 degree aligned means perusing efforts to limit the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Countries also need to report their progress on meeting their current emissions reduction targets. Strengthening transparency through these reports will help monitor progress and build confidence that commitments are being implemented. Finally, we need to scale up ambition and action.
- Given the unique environmental challenges faced by the South Caucasus region, how does the UK view the role of Azerbaijan and its neighbouring countries in global climate action?
- Water scarcity is a challenge that is felt especially in Azerbaijan, and is one that impacts many countries around the World. For evidence that in some places water is becoming increasingly scarce, we only need to look at the falling levels of the Caspian Sea. As Presidency of COP29, Azerbaijan can make this issue more prominent and help drive action and collaboration to adapt, which is what it is doing through the action agenda.
- Azerbaijan is a significant oil and gas producer. How does the UK perceive Azerbaijan's potential role in the global transition to greener, more sustainable energy sources?
As the first country to industrialise oil production, Azerbaijan can play a leading role in demonstrating the transition to zero carbon energy. Azerbaijan has huge potential for both solar and wind power, which it is already investing in. Just as Azerbaijan is an important supplier of oil and gas internationally, so it could become an important exporter of clean, zero carbon energy. And as a host of COP, the first country in the region to host it, Azerbaijan has a unique and exciting opportunity to showcase what it is doing to start that transition, inspiring other fossil fuel countries to follow its lead.
- What are your expectations for the upcoming COP29?
Despite the commitments and progress that we have all made, global temperatures continue to climb. COP29 needs to send a strong signal that we will scale up our ambition and action in tackling climate change. We hope that COP29 will deliver on the objectives that the Azerbaijani team has set out. But as the Azerbaijani team rightly say, success is not just down to the Presidency. It is down to all of us. The UK will do what we can; we expect others to do the same. We have a collective responsibility, for the sake of the planet, our children, and future generations.