Baku: Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, recently engaged in a significant meeting with Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the APA. The meeting focused on key environmental issues and collaborative efforts between Azerbaijan and UNEP.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the discussions delved into the cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and UNEP, covering areas such as environmental protection, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. Minister Bayramov shared insights into Azerbaijan’s active role in global climate initiatives, highlighting achievements from the COP29 conference hosted by Azerbaijan. He also detailed the country’s initiatives in green energy transition and environmental protection.
Inger Andersen acknowledged Azerbaijan’s efforts in advancing the global climate agenda and fostering international cooperation in environmental protection. The dialogue further explored avenues for collaboration in promoting the COP29 legacy, climate finance, sustainable urban development, waste management, and water resource protection. The importance of expanding joint projects between UNEP and Azerbaijan was underscored.
The meeting also touched upon Azerbaijan’s hosting of World Environment Day in 2026, reviewing potential areas for mutual cooperation in this framework. Minister Bayramov highlighted the severe environmental damage in Azerbaijan’s territories during the occupation period, including deforestation, illegal resource exploitation, and pollution. He emphasized the need for enhanced regional and international cooperation to address the declining Caspian Sea levels, which negatively impact the region’s ecosystem and economy.
The sides exchanged perspectives on other regional and international issues of interest, underscoring the importance of collective efforts in tackling environmental challenges.