(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. Azerbaijan, which is getting ready to roll out the red carpet for approximately 80,000 guests at COP29, has extended invitations to all countries, including Armenia, with whom it had a past conflict, deputy energy minister and CEO of the 29th session (COP29) of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Elnur Soltanov said this in an interview with Türkiye's Anadolu Agency, Trend reports.

According to him, although the current number of confirmed participants at COP29 exceeds 50 heads of state and government, that figure is anticipated to increase.

He noted that climate financing will be an important part of the national, regional, and international agenda at COP29.

Soltanov mentioned that one of the top priorities of COP29 will be to grease the wheels and ensure that developed countries step up to the plate and lend a helping hand to developing countries.

“The African continent accounts for around four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Still, it is the continent most impacted by climate change.

To lower greenhouse gas emissions and slow down climate change, developing nations require financial help. There are serious negotiations under progress to boost climate money, which at present amounts to about $100 billion. By COP29, perhaps, a resolution on this matter will be taken,” Soltanov added.

To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,000–80,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn.

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