Baku: Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan's Presidential Representative for Climate Issues and COP29 President, has expressed significant concerns regarding the implementation of decisions made during COP conferences. Speaking at a panel discussion titled 'Beyond Negotiations: The Struggle to Keep COP Alive', held as part of the XIII Baku Global Forum, Babayev highlighted the challenges faced in executing agreed-upon climate actions.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Babayev pointed out that during COP29, a substantial decision valued at 300 billion US dollars was made in Baku. However, he lamented that some countries are now retracting from these commitments. He emphasized that while there was initially a promising flow of donations from donors, the financial support has waned over time. Babayev stressed the importance of providing financial aid to the least developed countries and island states to bolster their economies, noting that many nations are diverting funds towards defense and security due to conflict risks, inadvertently sidelining climate priorities.

Babayev further noted that despite the 30 COP events conducted so far, the practical realization of decisions remains questionable. He suggested that the panel discussion could serve as a platform to reassess these issues, with both former and future COP presidents evaluating the situation. Highlighting the complexity and challenges of the current period, Babayev remarked on the pressures facing multilateralism and the UN system. He urged a focus not only on enhancing the outcomes of COP conferences but also on preparing for future challenges in the climate arena.