Azerbaijan applies to host Conference of Parties to UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Azerbaijan has applied to host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2026, Azernews reports, citing the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, and designated president of COP29, Muxtar Babayev, as he told during "Baku Climate Action Week."

He noted that in three weeks, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is planned to take place in Cali, Colombia:

"Taking advantage of this platform, I would like to announce that Azerbaijan has put forward its candidacy to host the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2026. The final decision on hosting will be made at the event in Cali later this month."

Recall that Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, will host the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) for the first time in the region from November 11–22, 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11. Azerbaijan successfully participated in the COP28 held in Abu Dhabi last year.

Azerbaijan will take the opportunity to bring heads of state and governments, civil society organisations, business, and international institutions together in the South Caucasus to discuss climate change, measures to accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and focus on long-term climate strategies and goals.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan confirmed its commitment to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 35 percent by 2030 and increase this target by 40 percent by 2050. Fulfilling the commitments under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 and actively working in this regard are priority issues for the government of Azerbaijan.

The Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been held annually since 1995. The event aims to assess the progress made in combating climate change around the world.