Ecologists from the PAE “Tebigy Kuwwat” attended COP29 in Baku

Representatives of the Public Association enterprise “Tebigy Kuwwat”,  the Aarhus Centre in Turkmenistan, and the Project office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan participated in the 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29), which took place officially in Baku from November 11 to 22, 2024.

During their visit, Berkeli Atayev, Serdar Mammetniyazov, and Mergen Kepbanov attended the “Turkish Climate Initiative Forum on Human Capital Issues”, held in the “Green Zone” at the stand of the Azerbaijan National Non-Governmental Organizations Forum.

Alongside the representatives from Turkmenistan, the forum, organized by the Agency of State Support to NGOs of Azerbaijan Republic, brought together civil society participants from Azerbaijan, Turkey (including Northern Cyprus), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Hungary. The stand became a gathering point for representatives of numerous NGOs, including the Organization of Turkic States and organizations working on women’s issues, youth, volunteering, ecology, journalism, and more. Discussions centered on the role of human capital in the fight against global warming.

The forum concluded with a ceremony, where the organizers expressed their thanks and presented commemorative gifts featuring the COP29 summit’s branding to all panelists.

The next event with the participation of Turkmen ecologists was a panel session on “The Caspian Sea and Sustainable Development: Environmental Protection”, which took place on November 19 in the “Green Zone” at the “Water” Conference Hall.

The session opened with welcome speeches from honored person:

1. Aygun Aliyeva, Member of the COP29 Organizing Committee, Executive Director of the Agency for State Support of NGOs of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
2. Azer Allahveranov, Deputy of the National Assembly;
3. Shelale Hasanova, Chairperson of the “Public Union for Assistance to the Development of Public Relations”;
4. Vladimir Grebnev, Regional Climate Change Specialist, Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC);
5. Gulbara Sultanova, Chairperson of the Committee on Civil Society Issues, Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

NGO representatives from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan spoke at the session. In his speech, Berkeli Atayev highlighted several key initiatives from the President of Turkmenistan, including:

1. The creation, in partnership with the UN, of a Regional Climate Change Technology Center for Central Asia and the Caspian Basin. This initiative would strengthen regional cooperation on environmental security and enhance coordination between countries. The center would monitor and analyze ecological trends in the region and provide governments with informed recommendations.
2. The Caspian Environmental Initiative – a platform for discussing environmental challenges and resource management in the Caspian region.
3. The preparation and signing of an agreement on scientific collaboration between Caspian countries.
4. Support for educational exchange programs to share knowledge in science, technology, and innovation.
5. Joint research, publications, and academic exchanges between regional universities.

“The future of regional cooperation in the Caspian region will depend on several factors, including the political commitment from states involved, active participation from civil society, and the development of joint initiatives and projects. In the coming years, we expect larger-scale technology exchange programs and enhanced scientific and educational cooperation, which will support economic growth and ensure a sustainable future for all Caspian states,” concluded B. Atayev.

Later that day, as part of the closing of their COP29 participation, “The Caspian House: Platform for Environmental Civil Society Organizations of the Caspian Countries” project was presented at the Azerbaijan National Non-Governmental Organizations Forum stand. This presentation was part of the “Promoting Public Relations Development” project, which received a grant in the “COP29: International Initiatives” competition, jointly announced by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The initiative aims to establish an environmental community of non-governmental organization from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, focused on implementing projects such as the Caspian House platform. This initiative will provide long-term information support for the virtual portal caspianhouse.info and “The Virtual Museum of Green Economy for Caspian States”. It also includes joint regional educational events, thematic programs, and international conferences. Four organizations reached an agreement on collaboration: ” Public Union for Assistance to the Development of Public Relations”,  NGO “Eurasian People’s Assembly”, the Kazakhstan EcoForum/Central Asia Climate Network of Civil Society, and PAE “Tebigy Kuwwat”.

As with previous COP climate summits, COP29 saw protests by eco-activists. Throughout the event, including on November 23, protesters rallied in both the “Blue Zone” and outdoors, calling for an end to fossil fuel funding and a shift towards renewable energy sources. Other protests included opposition to colonial rule, nuclear tests on colonial territories, and nuclear energy. Vegans also expressed their demands with banners and large inflatable balloons placed near the entrance to the “Blue Zone.”

The event wasn’t just about discussions, a cultural program was also organized for participants. Visitors were taken on tours of the evening city of Baku and the “Icheri Sheher” (Old City), Baku’s most historic district, where scenes from the famous Soviet film “The Diamond Arm” were filmed, where the characters famously fell, shouting “Damn it!”

In addition to its rich nature and cultural landmarks, Azerbaijan is famous for its cuisine. Guests were invited to restaurants like “Shah” Gallery-restaurant and the “Shirvanshahs” Museum Restaurant, where they enjoyed traditional dishes made from meat, fish, local fruits, vegetables, and sweets. I particularly enjoyed Azerbaijani dumplings called “Dushbara,” “feijoa” and “pomegranate” fruits, and the famous “baklava”.

Berkeli Atayev.