Azerbaijan is committed to developing its renewable energy potential, which is an important part of the country’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050. The country intends to increase renewable power capacity to 30% by 2030 and diversify its existing energy system to become a leader in green energy. Azerbaijan is committed to leading by example and will update its national targets in its next 1.5-aligned Nationally Determined Contribution. Azerbaijan’s abundant onshore and offshore wind energy resources create important opportunities for sustainable energy production. The country has an estimated economic potential of 3 GW onshore and 157 GW of offshore technical potential for wind energy. Important steps have been taken to realize this potential. Projects implemented with international investors such as “ACWA Power” and “Masdar” are a clear example of this.
Becoming a country of “GREEN GROWTH” is the national goal of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is committed to developing its renewable energy potential, which is an important part of the country’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050. The country intends to increase renewable power capacity to 30% by 2030 and diversify its existing energy system to become a leader in green energy. Azerbaijan is committed to leading by example and will update its national targets in its next 1.5-aligned Nationally Determined Contribution. Azerbaijan’s abundant onshore and offshore wind energy resources create important opportunities for sustainable energy production. The country has an estimated economic potential of 3 GW onshore and 157 GW of offshore technical potential for wind energy. Important steps have been taken to realize this potential. Projects implemented with international investors such as “ACWA Power” and “Masdar” are a clear example of this.
The decision to hold COP29 in Baku also means global support for Azerbaijan’s green energy policy. Accordingly, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, 2024 was declared the “Year of Solidarity for the Green World” in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, an oil and gas country, has identified the creation of green energy types and the transportation of green energy to world markets as a new priority direction of energy policy. The export of electricity produced on the basis of renewable and green energy has led to the beginning of a new era in Azerbaijan’s energy strategy. Azerbaijan’s renewable energy potential is very high. By 2030, the share of renewable energy in the installed capacity of electricity is expected to reach 30 percent in Azerbaijan. According to statistical indicators, the technical potential of renewable energy sources of our country is 135 gigawatts on land and 157 gigawatts at sea. The economic potential of renewable energy sources is 27 gigawatts, including 3,000 megawatts of wind energy, 23,000 megawatts of solar energy, and 380 megawatts of bioenergy potential. The potential of mountain rivers is estimated at 520 megawatts.
COP is the most significant sustainability event globally. Last year in the UAE, COP28 brought together over 170 world leaders and 86,000 registered participants. COP serves as a catalyst for innovation, cooperation, and solidarity in the global fight against climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated action to safeguard the planet for future generations. It will be the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP), and will bring together the signatory countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Scheduled for November in Baku, Azerbaijan, the event will bring together government delegations, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), corporations, research institutions, think tanks, international financial institutions, and influential individuals representing diverse sectors from around the globe. The 2024 Baku Climate Change Conference, or COP 29, is an international conference organized by the United Nations that will take place from November 11 to 22, 2024 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
“The COP29 to be held in Baku will see the talks on agreeing upon a new collective quantified goal on climate finance post-2025,” President Ilham Aliyev said in his message to the participants of the 29th High-Level Meeting themed “Pathway to COP29: Sustainable and Resilient Future.”
In Baku, preparations are underway for COP29, which will bring together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address pressing climate change issues and work towards sustainable solutions. The conference in Baku is expected to serve as a platform for meaningful discussions and collaborations aimed at tackling the challenges posed by climate change on a global scale. At the same time, Azerbaijan also intends to export its green energy to Europe through Georgia and the Black Sea. This indicates that after 2026, Azerbaijan will have a special share in meeting the European Union’s demand for green energy. Very fast work is being done in this direction as well. COP29 will create conditions for a closer presentation of Azerbaijan’s potential and economic opportunities, which is one of the most important factors. Because such events serve to support and develop the tourism-service sector on the one hand, and on the other hand, create an opportunity to get to know the economic potential of the country more closely.
Azerbaijan has hosted many international events in the world. COP29 will be the largest event in terms of the number of participants and scale. Baku Olympic Stadium was chosen as the venue for the event. This decision was taken in consultation with the UN and taking into account the experience of previous COP events. Preparations for COP29 are proceeding very productively, given the short time frame for Azerbaijan. Countries usually have about two years to prepare for this type of climate conference. In the case of Azerbaijan, the timeframe is quite constrained—roughly ten months. By October, all preparations will be completed, and what we have seen so far is evidence of the impressive work done by the COP29 chairing team. At present, preparations for COP29 are being successfully continued.
As the host, Azerbaijan will demonstrate a transparent, action-oriented, hospitable and inclusive approach. Due to the unique components of its natural diversity, as well as its multicultural society, historical heritage and foresight, our country can offer many advantages as a host country for COP29. Among the preparations for the event, inclusion is one of the top priorities. The organizers are careful to promote a culture of mutual respect and inclusion. The event will focus on diversity among the speakers, panelists and seminar presenters, as well as the participation of minority groups. It is planned to implement a number of measures to ensure the accessibility of the place and facilities where the conference will be held. A special heritage program has been developed that includes issues related to human capital formation, infrastructure strengthening and promotion of sustainable development. Within this program, the main focus is on capacity building and local awareness, as well as reuse of logistics and infrastructure elements. This was also confirmed by the speeches made at the first press conference held at the headquarters of COP29 on April 15 regarding the said international event. The holding of COP29 in our country is a manifestation of the international community’s trust in the policy of Azerbaijan at the national and international level under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, including the efforts to contribute to the solution of the climate change problem. Within the framework of our country’s chairmanship and hosting of COP29, in the direction of strengthening global solidarity on climate change will operate continuously.
We look forward to meeting you at COP29 to participate in discussions and events aimed at shaping a sustainable and healthy future. Our focus on environmental responsibility is always at the forefront as we share innovative solutions and showcase our initiatives. Join us in witnessing our commitment to a greener world where collaborative efforts take center stage.
We are excited to host COP29 and welcome the world society to Azerbaijan this November.
Leyla Guliyeva, Member of Azerbaijan-Europe Youth Cooperation Public Union (Ph.D student, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China i201922135@hust.edu.cn )
