Importance of COP29 cannot be underestimated - UN Climate Executive Secretary

BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 30. The importance of the upcoming COP29 cannot be underestimated, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention Simon Stiell said at the international conference within the framework of the Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW 2024), Trend reports.

"The urgency and importance of the upcoming COP29 cannot be underestimated. To grasp the importance of this event, just look at the headlines in recent news about record temperatures, abnormal heat, and floods. As confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, 2023 has been the hottest on record, with particularly shocking temperature fluctuations in the ocean. Extreme weather events and wildfires are no longer part of future forecasts; for far too many of us, they have become a reality," he said.

Stiell noted that Climate Action Week serves as a springboard to shine a spotlight on the city of Baku and its residents in the lead-up to COP29.

"I want to congratulate the government of Azerbaijan on hosting COP29. Under the presidency aimed at enhancing ambition and supporting action, key themes of the conference, such as the energy transition, urban resilience, sustainable financing, water resources, and food and agriculture, place Azerbaijan at the center of the international climate agenda this year," he underscored.

To note, Baku will host Action Week (BCAW 2024) for the first time from September 30 to October 4, 2024. The event will form the basis of the climate agenda ahead of COP29 in Baku in November. It will bring together key stakeholders from a range of fields such as politics, finance, trade, investment, science, arts, culture, civil society, and media.

The main themes of the event are “energy transition," “cities and urbanized environments," “water security," “food and agriculture," "SMEs,” and “green skills.”

The first half of the week, from September 30 through October 2, will be all about rolling up our sleeves and tackling climate solutions with the big guns—government agencies, academia, and the private sector joining forces. The second half (October 3-4) will shine a spotlight on science, education, arts, culture, and other sectors, covering all the bases.