Sue Biniaz, U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate, highly praised the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be held in Azerbaijan in November, recognizing its significance. The United States supports holding COP29 in Azerbaijan and looks forward to Azerbaijani leadership driving a range of critical issues.
Sue Biniaz pointed out that one of COP29’s main agendas is to continue the global stocktake results established at COP28 in Dubai. These results provide a roadmap for maintaining the 1.5°C warming goal, and COP29 must maintain this momentum to ensure the decisions made in Dubai are implemented. Furthermore, climate finance will be one of the central issues at COP29, particularly as COP29 seeks to reach a consensus on climate finance support targets post-2025:
“The $100 billion goal is insufficient to address the climate crisis; we need to shift toward a broader perspective focused on ‘trillions.'”
U.S. and Azerbaijan Cooperation
Sue Biniaz mentioned that U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in February this year and spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 3, discussing bilateral cooperation in the field of climate. She emphasized, “We support Azerbaijan’s leadership in COP29 and are closely collaborating with their team.” The Azerbaijani COP29 team has been praised for its excellence, and the U.S. has sent representatives to visit Baku multiple times, holding several meetings in Washington and Berlin.
Sue Biniaz pointed out that climate finance is a central issue at this year’s conference. The cost of implementing climate action is high, and it requires not only public funds but also the support of the private sector and multilateral development banks. She stated that Azerbaijan can play an important role in driving the global financial architecture toward a green transformation.
Azerbaijan’s Potential for Green Transformation
Sue Biniaz stated that Azerbaijan has shown great potential in its green economic transformation, particularly in offshore wind projects in the Caspian Sea and solar energy development. The United States is highly interested in these initiatives and looks forward to deeper cooperation with Azerbaijan in this field. Azerbaijan has also partnered with Georgia, Romania, and Hungary to promote the “Green Energy Corridor,” and the U.S. is eager to learn more about this project and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Sue Biniaz also mentioned that she has familial ties to the region and plans to visit Nakhchivan after COP29 to trace her family history and gain a deeper understanding of the local culture. She expressed that this visit would be profoundly meaningful to her and that she looks forward to using this opportunity to learn more about the region’s history and culture.
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