Baku: Azerbaijan has called for a renewed focus on building trust in climate negotiations as a crucial step towards achieving more ambitious climate goals. Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President and Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues, highlighted this need during his address at the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue titled 'Riding the Wave: Ocean-Climate from Mombasa to Antalya,' part of the London Climate Action Week 2026.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Mukhtar Babayev underscored the priorities set by the joint COP31 Presidency of Trkiye and Australia, which include implementing climate commitments, electrification, enhancing resilience, and practical decision-making. He remarked that ocean and climate issues now extend beyond environmental concerns, impacting economic development, security, and public well-being for countries with marine and coastal dependencies.

The Azerbaijani representative pointed out that climate change has already manifested in many vulnerable nations through rising sea levels, coastal erosion, soil salinization, and forced displacement, all of which challenge sustainable development. Mukhtar Babayev highlighted the financial hurdles developing countries face in implementing green projects due to high financing costs, often two to three times higher than those in developed economies.

Illustrating the severity of climate impact, Babayev cited the Caspian region, where the Caspian Sea's water level has been decreasing annually by over 20 centimeters. This decline poses challenges for the Caspian littoral states and affects the development of the Middle Corridor, a strategic link between Asia and Europe.

Azerbaijan remains committed to supporting climate-vulnerable developing small island states, offering financial and organizational backing. Babayev noted that one of Baku's event priorities is to ensure these countries are well-represented on international platforms. Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, has pledged $10 million over five years to enhance the resilience of these nations against climate change.

In his concluding remarks, Mukhtar Babayev emphasized the undeniable impact of climate change on oceans, seas, and water systems, which serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action to address its economic, infrastructural, and security implications.