COP29 President: Azerbaijan advancing toward green future through energy diversification

Azerbaijan continues to extract hydrocarbon resources while actively investing in renewable energy, aiming to diversify its energy mix and reduce environmental impact, Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s presidential representative on climate issues and president of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), said in an interview with The Times of Central Asia.

"Decarbonization must go hand in hand with biodiversity protection. While oil and gas operations will persist, Azerbaijan is actively investing in renewables. We've signed agreements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on exporting green electricity to Europe and created green energy zones domestically. This diversification reflects our commitment to reducing harmful emissions," he said.

Reflecting on the outcomes of the Baku-hosted COP29 climate summit, Babayev noted that Azerbaijan will also participate in the upcoming preparatory climate conference in Bonn this June.

"A preparatory climate meeting in Bonn this June will assess regional progress ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Our goal is to reinforce climate protection efforts, set new targets, and adopt innovative tools," he said.

Babayev also expressed regret over the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, noting that as a major emitter, the US had played a crucial role in its implementation.

"But global efforts must continue. Recent progress on carbon markets and the loss and damage fund demonstrates the agreement's resilience," he said.