Azerbaijan committed to the “Bonn Challenge” by pledging to restore 270,000 hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes by 2030.
The “Report” reports that this was announced by Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of COP29, at the UN headquarters in New York “The Rio Trio Initiative: Integrated Environmental Action” (The Rio Trio Initiative: Integrated Environmental Action), he stated during his speech in the high-level debate.
The Minister informed the guests about the “River Trio Initiative” implemented by Azerbaijan in the fight against climate change in the world. According to him, the planet urgently needs cooperation:
“During our recent visits to countries fighting climate change, we saw some of the scenes firsthand. We saw how changes in precipitation and rising temperatures in the Congo Basin are accelerating deforestation and affecting unique ecosystems. This loss of biodiversity is affecting local communities whose livelihoods depend on forests. Deforestation depletes oxygen reserves and exacerbates global climate change.
In Pakistan we saw the consequences of catastrophic floods that covered a third of the country. These floods have intensified with climate change, causing thousands of victims and climate displacement. This situation also accelerates desertification in already fragile areas, causing long-term damage to agricultural land. The strengthening of cooperation in the “Rio Trio Convention” implemented within the framework of COP29 aims to achieve concrete results that benefit people and the planet.
In his speech, the Minister said that for the first time a marine protection zone was created in the Caspian Sea to prevent climate change, water scarcity and biodiversity loss and protect Azerbaijan’s critical ecosystems.
Babayev added that this year alone five million trees will be planted to contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide and the protection of clean air resources:
“We need to break down barriers, foster innovation and embrace comprehensive solutions. The Rio Trio Initiative is a step in that direction. It is a recognition that challenges are interconnected and solutions must be as well.”
At the end of the event, the “Joint Declaration of the Rio Trio” was adopted between Colombia, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan with the participation of COP officials.
