Baku hosts WED side event on methane emissions

As part of the 2026 World Environment Day (WED), hosted in Baku, a side event titled "Joint Action for Methane Reduction: Agriculture, Energy, and Waste Solutions" was organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Report informs.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stressed the urgency of reducing methane emissions, which account for nearly one-third of global warming. She warned that global temperatures are likely to exceed the 1.5°C threshold set under the Paris Agreement, underscoring the need for rapid decarbonization.

Serbia's Minister of Environmental Protection, Sara Pavkov, highlighted her country's prioritization of methane reduction, noting ongoing mitigation measures, renewable energy initiatives, and efforts to strengthen waste management systems to meet EU standards.

Azerbaijan's First Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Aghakarim Samadzada, emphasized that cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest and most effective ways to slow global warming.

He noted that emissions mainly stem from agriculture, waste management, and the energy sector, and reducing them requires innovation, investment, international cooperation, and strong national commitments. For Azerbaijan, methane reduction is both an ecological priority and a development opportunity, aligning energy growth with environmental protection.