COP29 kicks off in Baku with ICESCO’s participation
11 November 2024
Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), attended the opening session of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which kicked off on Monday (11 November 2024) and continue until November 22, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The COP29 features the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, the major event within the conference activities, which is an opportunity to assess the progress made in mitigating the effects of climate change and discuss the best ways to combat this phenomenon. This year Summit will focus on generating new funding for climate action.
During the opening session of COP29, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates, COP28 President, handed the COP presidency over to Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who called in his address for enhancing climate ambition through clear plans and effective financing for the benefit of developing countries. Mr. Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, emphasized the importance of defining a new global climate finance goal, adding that the current challenges require global resilience.
ICESCO, which holds an observer status at COP29, is participating in the 29th session of the Conference in Baku with a special pavilion in the Blue Zone, where about 50 diverse activities is scheduled to discuss the implications of climate change on education, science and culture. ICESCO will also organize a panel discussion, in partnership with the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) on enhancing water security, biodiversity and peace through innovation and Earth observation.
Dr. Al-Malik, leading ICESCO’s high-level delegation at the Conference, will participate in the World Leaders Climate Action Summit. He will also meet a number of senior officials participating in the Conference as well as the heads of relevant international organizations and bodies to discuss ways of cooperation for promoting environmental protection and countering the negative repercussions of climate change.
Following the COP29 opening session, ICESCO Director General visited the Organization’s pavilion in the Blue Zone, checked the preparations for the start of activities, and received a number of officials and ministers participating in the Conference.