SPECIAL FEATURE
24–26°C Productivity begins to decline 33–34°C Workers performing moderate- intensity tasks can lose up to 50 percent of their capacity
higher physical demands or outdoor work environments. These include jobs in environmental goods and services (such as natural resource management), construction, waste management, emergency repair, transportation, tourism, sports and agriculture. In response to these challenges, Azerbaijan has revised its Paris Agreement commitments. These Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) now pledge a 40 percent emission reduction by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. Achieving this target will rely on international collaboration, providing essential resources such as financing, technology transfer and capacity building. At the same time the country has no intention to reduce its fossil fuel production. “Europe needs more gas,” Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said earlier this year. While he emphasized his country’s efforts to diversify the energy mix towards renewables, he also remarked: “Having oil and gas deposits is not our fault.” A National Adaptation Plan was rolled out in 2021. Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the United Nations Development
NDCs, integrates low-emission and climate-resilient actions into the national development plan and aligns climate change legislation with EU standards. Innovative solutions like urban greening and energy-efficient building designs are being implemented to mitigate the urban heat island effect. In recent years, the country has been actively promoting and implementing green building initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint and conserve natural resources. Urban greening strategies such as planting more trees, creating green roofs and establishing parks help cool the environment. Meanwhile, energy-efficient building designs reduce heat absorption and improve indoor cooling. With temperatures in Azerbaijan expected to outpace the global average, the urgency for decisive action cannot be overstated. Achieving meaningful and lasting progress will hinge on sustained international collaboration and innovative solutions. As Minister Babayev wrote in a COP29 preparation letter, only through coordinated global efforts, can we ensure a more resilient future for all. The start of the conference is also the starting line for delivery.
During heatwaves, children and adolescents, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, individuals
with chronic illnesses and eco-migrants are
particularly vulnerable.
Programme (UNDP), the plan aims to improve the country’s resilience to climate change by advancing adaptation actions in three priority sectors: water, agriculture and coastal areas. It focuses on strengthening institutional, technical and financial capacities in support of government efforts to ensure that medium-to-long- term climate adaptation needs are integrated into Azerbaijan’s national development planning. Assistance from the European Union through the EU4Climate project provides support to the country’s climate efforts. The project helps Azerbaijan update and enhance its
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