Azerbaijan seeks to advance climate agenda at home and abroad

Azerbaijan, as a former COP host, is interested in advancing the climate agenda not only on international platforms but also through its domestic policies, Elchin Allahverdiyev, Head of the Climate Diplomacy Department at the Foreign Ministry, said.

According to Report, he made the remarks during the panel "Impact Dialogue – From Commitment to Implementation: Healthy and Resilient Cities through Climate-Urban Partnerships," held as part of Baku Climate Action Week 2026.

Allahverdiyev said cities and regions need climate finance to be measurable, predictable and responsive to their specific needs.

"The availability of finance is one issue, but access to that finance is another important element. That is why we need alignment and close coordination between national climate plans, development strategies and local investment priorities at the regional government level. This can help address the needs of local communities," he said.

The Foreign Ministry official noted that international financial institutions and partner organizations should play an important role in ensuring that cities and regions can access these financial resources.

Allahverdiyev added that urban systems account for around 70% of global emissions and that this should be taken into account in climate action.

"We later decided to take this issue to subsequent COPs and to other practical platforms such as the World Urban Forum (WUF). While COPs are mainly decision-making platforms where policymakers and government representatives are well represented, WUF gives us the opportunity to engage more closely with local stakeholders who are the real owners of the process," he said.

He added that this had helped ensure political and institutional continuity between platforms such as COP and WUF.

"As a former COP host, Azerbaijan is interested in advancing this important agenda not only across different international platforms but also through its own domestic activities," Allahverdiyev said.