Azerbaijani scholar: COP29 can make great contributions in technology for future generations

Starting from the industrialization period, there has been a change in the temperature on the Earth. This process affected the three factors that maintain the Earth's thermal balance - short waves from the sun, the Earth's own long-wave energy, and the return of the Earth's waves from the atmosphere. The return of carbon dioxide, water vapor and other gases from the earth to the atmosphere must be balanced. If these gases are not present, the approximate temperature of the Earth will be minus 15 C. This can deepen global climate change. For centuries, the level of heat generated has already changed due to the increase of other gases in the atmosphere. Seeing this, the nations of the world decided at the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 that the conference should be held every year.

The increasing negative effects of climate change on the environment on a global scale led to the signing of the Paris Agreement on December 15, 2015. 195 countries agreed and 89 ratified the agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) held in the French capital and entered into force on November 4, 2016.

The agreement envisages that by 2040, global warming should be curbed to 1.5 C, not more than 2 C above pre-industrial (1850-1900) temperatures. This indicator is currently around 1 C. Establishing close cooperation among the 195 countries and supporting each country's commitment to climate goals in proportion to its resources can have effective results.

At the same time, one of the main points of the agreement is to facilitate the flow of necessary investments and finance between countries, along with technological development, and ensure its mobility between countries. In addition, it is important to review the accountability every five years for transparency and results-oriented activities. In general, the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement is to limit global temperature increase and reduce carbon emissions. Limiting the rise in global average surface temperature to 2 C, preferably below 1.5 C, is one of the main topics in order to prevent the climate crisis. Azerbaijan ratified the Paris Agreement on October 28, 2016.

Speaking on the issue, Said Safarov, head of the department of the Institute of Geography of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Doctor of Geography, told Report that it is inevitable to take steps on all points of the Paris Agreement at COP29:

“Overall, the goal of COP events is to make progress towards limiting global carbon dioxide (CO2) levels to 1.5 C, as required by the Paris Agreement. If mitigation of this situation does not work, other measures will be needed.”

COP (Conference of the Parties) aims to strengthen the role of countries in the fight against global climate change. Based on the decision taken at the COP28 conference held in Dubai, the 29th Conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Baku on November 11-22. The COP29 conference is an opportunity for participating countries to make new commitments and take concrete steps to address the climate crisis.

COP29 is also of global importance in terms of ensuring favorable climate conditions for future generations. Thus, holding COP29 is the main tool that will prevent the deterioration of climate conditions on the planet, improve people's health, and provide plenty of food products. Therefore, the steps taken in this area should be more important for future generations than the measures taken in connection with a number of regional political conflicts and separate political issues.

The COP29 event will raise awareness about climate change and environmental problems in Azerbaijani society. This, of course, will prompt citizens to exhibit more responsible behavior toward environmental problems. People can be more active in ecological projects. This, in turn, can pave the way for the COP29 conference to a globally important revival process not only for Azerbaijan but for the future generations of the Earth.

These benefits will increase both environmental sustainability and make significant contributions to economic development in the world.

According to Safarov, during the COP29 conference, Azerbaijan will be able to demonstrate its rich cultural heritage and beauty to the world, as well as present its efforts towards environmental sustainability and the development of green technologies:

“Holding the conference will be an important opportunity for Azerbaijan to play a significant important role in the global climate policy and fulfill its obligations. During this event, best practices and new technologies in the fight against climate change will be presented, while the participation of local communities and non-governmental organizations will be encouraged. This may also lead to changes in the results obtained in the transition to green energy in Azerbaijan. Widespread use of green energy around the world will have an impact on the Earth.”

“Global warming became evident after the 90s. There are many reasons why this did not happen until then. For example, economic growth in the 1990s increased carbon emissions. In addition, the change in agricultural production did not pass without affecting the climate. The reuse of areas that have not been used for years has disturbed the albedo of the earth. This makes it difficult to return the rays from the sun. The contact of aerosols with rays also fails. This leads to disruption of the global average temperature,” the scholar told Report.

Currently, 17.9 percent of energy consumption in the world comes from renewable energy sources. In 2018, $296 billion was invested in renewable energy technologies worldwide. This field has become a trend even among countries rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, or coal.

Global warming, price changes of traditional energy in world markets, crisis, etc. problems, as well as the societal acceptance of the importance of innovative technologies clearly demonstrate that green energy will rapidly develop in the near future, not only in countries like Austria, but also throughout the world. This, in turn, will contribute to future generations.

For Azerbaijan, which aims to strengthen its position as a regional leader, hosting COP29 is an impetus to increase the country's contribution to global efforts in combating environmental issues. The COP29 conference will also strengthen Azerbaijan's position internationally and boost the country's role in global discussions on climate change.

Last year, at the COP event, a request was made to create a special fund and help poor countries. Through financial assistance, they can also fulfill the requirements of the Paris Agreement. Safarov said that new requirements can be set at COP29, and the requirements of the fund will be updated. The steps taken at this conference mean a step taken for the planet and future generations.

Safarov specifically noted that COP29 will not leave an impact on innovation and technology:

“Reducing emissions by 35 percent by using green energy requires new technology. It is impossible to directly replace traditional fuel with green energy. If we do, the economy will collapse. It is necessary to use green energy for compensation. For alternative energy to take the place of traditional fuel, great technological power is needed. For example, we are talking about using wind energy. But it is easier said than done. New technology, mechanisms, and special equipment are needed for this.”

The expert believes that after those things are provided, it is necessary to constantly improve the equipment so that the coefficient of performance does not decrease: “I think COP29 will make one of its major contributions in the field of technology. Considering that our world is modernizing year by year, this is the best investment for future generations.”