Pakistan and Azerbaijan Strengthen Climate Cooperation Ahead of COP-29
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, has held high-level discussions with the leadership of COP-29 in Azerbaijan to advance global climate action, urging stronger international cooperation, equitable responses, and increased support from developed countries. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the COP Heads of Delegation Retreat in Shamakhi, as Pakistan continues to position itself as a frontline voice for climate-vulnerable nations.
During meetings with H.E. Mukhtar Babayev, President COP-29 and Special Envoy on Environment to the President of Azerbaijan, and H.E. Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister and COP-29 Lead Negotiator, both parties discussed the urgent need for enhanced effort on resilience, mitigation, and sustainable development in the face of accelerating climate impacts worldwide. The leaders reached a consensus on the necessity for immediate, coordinated, and equitable responses from the global community.
Dr. Malik emphasized that countries in the Global South, including Pakistan, disproportionately suffer the consequences of climate-induced disasters, despite the Global North’s historic and ongoing contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. He highlighted Pakistan’s precarious position as a highly climate-vulnerable nation, neighboring two of the world’s largest carbon emitters, which intensifies the country’s exposure to environmental risks.
Stressing that climate change transcends national boundaries, Dr. Malik reiterated that environmental degradation, pollution, and severe weather events impact populations regardless of borders. He called on developed nations to honor their climate finance commitments and to lead the way in reducing emissions, underlining the need for tangible and meaningful climate action.
Exploring prospects for green cooperation, the discussions identified renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, adaptation strategies, and disaster risk reduction as key areas for partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. Both countries expressed interest in collaborative efforts to address shared environmental challenges.
Dr. Malik reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for multilateral climate governance, expressing hope that the upcoming COP would deliver significant progress towards just, inclusive, and science-led global climate action.
