Azerbaijan highlights circular economy role in cutting emissions

Waste generated by one party can serve as a production input for another, Faig Mutallimov, an official at the Office of the Presidential Representative on Climate Issues, said.

According to Report, he made the remarks on the fourth day of Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026).

Mutallimov said that meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement requires looking beyond emissions at the point where they are produced and considering the entire economic system.

"Every building requires steel, cement, glass and other materials. Every vehicle requires metals, plastics and, increasingly, batteries. Renewable energy systems themselves require large volumes of minerals and manufactured components. Food production and agriculture require land, water, energy, packaging and transport. In other words, the entire economic system depends on resources," he said.

He noted that one of the main priorities in implementation should be mitigation and a shift in the way production is approached.

"We need to think about how we produce in order to reduce emissions. We also need to ask whether we actually need such high levels of production. I think this changes the climate discussion," Mutallimov said.

He added that the issue is also closely linked to competitiveness, as resource efficiency and cleaner production can help businesses and industries optimize costs.

"Waste generated by one party can become a production input for another," he said.