Nairobi: The national statement of the Republic of Azerbaijan was presented during the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Kenya. The statement was delivered by Umayra Taghiyeva, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Deputy Minister highlighted the challenges Azerbaijan faces due to climate change, environmental degradation, and pollution. She emphasized a 30 percent decrease in Azerbaijan’s incoming water resources, increasing pressure on ecosystems, and the rapid shrinking of the Caspian Sea, all of which shape the nation’s environmental and climate agenda.
Taghiyeva discussed Azerbaijan’s role as host of COP29 under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership. She noted that COP29 strengthened global climate ambition and led to the New Collective Quantitative Goal for climate finance, aiding developing countries in implementing national climate plans. She stressed the importance of fulfilling commitments made in Baku promptly. Decisions from COP29, such as finalizing the Paris Agreement rules on carbon markets, have activated the Agreement’s policy framework, setting the stage for a more practical implementation phase in its second decade.
At the national level, Taghiyeva described Azerbaijan’s leadership in climate action and environmental policy. Azerbaijan has submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution ‘NDC 3.0,’ aiming for a 40 percent emission reduction by 2035, moving the target forward by 15 years. This is a significant increase in ambition compared to the previous NDC 2.0.
Azerbaijan has also joined the Kigali Amendment and the Rotterdam Convention, reinforcing its commitment to global efforts in managing hazardous substances, improving air quality, and mitigating climate change. Taghiyeva mentioned ongoing efforts in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and building climate-resilient communities, with ‘green development’ as a core priority in Azerbaijan’s Socio-Economic Development Strategy for 2027-2030.
The Deputy Minister announced that Azerbaijan will co-host the World Urban Forum (WUF13) with UN-Habitat and host World Environment Day (WED 2026) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She invited partners to participate in these events in Baku.