NEW YORK – Azerbaijan, holding the presidency of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, is set to host a High-Level Dialogue on Global Climate Transparency on September 25 during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. This session aims to propel forward the country’s initiatives in enhancing global climate accountability.

According to Trend News Agency, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev highlighted the importance of this gathering in a letter to UN member states, advocating for support for Azerbaijan’s climate strategies. Babayev specifically pointed to the ‘Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform’ (BTP) as a key topic of discussion for the New York dialogue. “The BTP initiative is designed to foster enhanced transparency in climate actions globally, a cornerstone for tracking progress and strengthening trust among nations,” he noted in his letter published on the official COP29 website.

Babayev emphasized that transparency is not only critical for monitoring advancements and compliance with the climate goals outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement but also essential for identifying needs for further action and support. He added that Azerbaijan is leading by example, preparing to present its Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) ahead of the COP29 summit scheduled for November 11-22 in Baku, and urged other parties to expedite their BTR submissions.

“The Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform aims to support particularly developing countries in preparing and submitting their BTRs,” Babayev explained. He detailed plans for the BTP to host workshops across various regions including Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, to assist these nations with their transparency reporting.

Additionally, the BTP seeks to complement and integrate with existing transparency initiatives like “Together4Transparency,” enhancing global collaboration and knowledge sharing. High-level experts such as Zulfia Suleimenova and Francesco Corvaro have recently joined the initiative, demonstrating international commitment to the platform.

This year’s COP29 in Baku is poised to bring together approximately 70-80,000 international delegates, underlining its significant role in advancing global climate dialogue and action.