COP29 president says impossible to distract from climate change issues

Growing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in the international environment must not distract attention from the imperative to collaborate and address climate change as the greatest transnational challenge of the century, reads a letter to parties and constituencies by Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Report informs.

This letter to the global community outlines the plan and expectations for the annual climate summit.

"COP29 will be a litmus test for the Paris Agreement and global climate action and cooperation. We must address all of the most fundamental and pressing issues at COP29, with a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) as a centrepiece," reads the letter.

He also outlined the main principles that guide the COP29 presidency and spoke about actions designed to increase the ambition of new climate targets.

"Throughout the COP29 Presidency’s consultations we have presented our vision based on two parallel pillars to enhance ambition and enable action, with climate finance as our top priority. These pillars are mutually reinforcing – progress on each sends a strong signal in support of the other. Successful delivery of key mandates and action will be essential to building trust, solidarity, and momentum," reads the letter.

It is also noted that the COP29 presidency will continue to actively cooperate with the parties, and hopes are also expressed for the successful conduct of the upcoming session.