Baku: The high-level opening ceremony of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Fourth Climate Week (CW4) was held in Baku, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Addressing the ceremony, Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, emphasized that climate change has transitioned from a distant threat to a visible reality worldwide. He highlighted the significant shifts witnessed in recent years, particularly along coasts and coastal areas, stressing the pressure on national economies and global financial markets.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, these developments underscore the importance of economic diversification and energy sustainability for national security, economic stability, and long-term resilience. Jeyhun Bayramov stressed the need for decisive action to advance the global climate agenda, noting the complementarity of international leadership with regional actions in the coming months.

FM Bayramov reiterated Azerbaijan's support for Trkiye as it prepares to host the next COP. He highlighted the cooperation between the COP29 and COP31 presidencies as an example of regional solidarity, which ensures continuity in the climate agenda and advances climate finance mechanisms.

Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, addressed the event through a video message, expressing gratitude to Azerbaijan for hosting the event. He remarked on Baku's significance in international climate cooperation, citing the new global climate finance goal of 300 billion dollars a year by 2035 agreed upon at COP29. Stiell emphasized the need to scale up climate finance to at least 1.3 trillion dollars a year by 2035 and highlighted the Baku to Bel©m Roadmap as a practical step toward achieving this goal.

Stiell noted that climate cooperation is crucial in preventing catastrophic levels of heating, while other speakers, including Fatma Varank, CEO of COP31, David Higgins, Deputy Executive Director for Australia's President of Negotiations, Ana Toni, COP30 Executive Director, and Daniele Violetti, UNFCCC Senior Director of Programmes Coordination, contributed to the discussions. The official ceremony concluded with an artistic program.