Mukhtar Babayev: Work is underway to prepare new climate strategy

Azerbaijan is currently working on developing a new comprehensive climate strategy, Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and COP29 President-designate, said at the International Baku Conference of Ombudspersons, Report informs.

In recent years, Azerbaijan has been implementing various political, economic, and legislative reforms aimed at decarbonizing the economy. Practical steps have been taken, and normative legal acts have been adopted in this area.

However, Minister Babayev emphasized the importance of further improving legal mechanisms: “Our legal systems should ensure the implementation of global agreements on climate change, implement climate justice, and protect the rights of those most vulnerable to climate impacts. These tasks should be solved not only at the national level but also within the framework of international cooperation."

The minister also pointed out that Azerbaijan's climate strategy encompasses both adaptation to global obligations and the implementation of national priorities. "The new strategy will target low-carbon development, covering all economic sectors," stated Babayev. “We pay special attention to inclusivity and human rights in the preparation of the document, with active measures being taken to ensure that the most vulnerable groups, including children, women, and local populations, are at the center of our climate policies. For this, meetings and discussions are organized between various interested parties."

Despite the progress made, Minister Babayev highlighted the significant challenges that still need to be addressed. One of the biggest challenges is increasing the potential for adapting to climate change, particularly the limited access to clean technology and international climate finance systems, which creates difficulties in implementing projects at the local level.