(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 2. The first day of
the International Baku Forum of Ombudsmen on Climate Change and
Human Rights has ended today, Trend reports.
First, the address of the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to the participants of the forum was read
out.
The event has convened ombudspersons, representatives from
national human rights institutions, information commissioners,
senior officials from government agencies, leaders of civil society
organizations, and experts in climate change and human rights from
approximately 30 countries.
Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan,
President of COP29 Mukhtar Babayev said that if the temperature
rises further, it will create serious risks for both health and
food security, and exceeding this threshold will lead to more
severe droughts, damaging biodiversity.
Babayev emphasized that water shortages and shifting weather
patterns may have long-term effects if failure to implement climate
change mitigation measures is not implemented.
"In Azerbaijan, climate change is also severely impacting
agriculture. The frequency of hot and dry winds has increased by 14
times, and hail occurrences have tripled. Water reserves in
Azerbaijan have decreased by 15 percent, and the level of the
Caspian Sea has also seen a serious decline in recent years," he
added.
The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan,
Sabina Aliyeva, pointed out that climate change consequences have
no boundaries; negatively impacting the environment may lead to the
emergence of more dangerous environmental problems for humanity and
aren't limited to the territory of one country or region.
She also pointed out that a globally significant event, the 29th
session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (COP29), will take place next month in
Azerbaijan.
The ombudsperson emphasized that necessary steps are currently
being taken to organize this prestigious event at a high level, and
hosting it in Azerbaijan is a sign of great respect and trust
towards the country.
Aliyeva added that strengthening cooperation at the local,
regional, and international levels to address environmental issues,
which is also reflected in the UN Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), and further improving mechanisms for the effective
promotion, protection, and safeguarding of environmental rights,
which are an integral part of human rights, is a priority task.
The UN Development Program's acting resident representative in
Azerbaijan, Alessandra Roccasalvo, said that there should be global
cooperation in the fight against climate change.
She noted that the new generation of youth is actively involved
in the fight against climate change.
“Water scarcity is such a big problem that the next generations
will suffer from it. They will not be able to carry out the work
that the old generation has done. Azerbaijan will host COP29; it's
not an easy task. However, I am proud that I will take part in
it.
Through joint discussions, we can fight climate change and find
solutions,” she added.
The forum seeks to address issues related to global climate
change and examine solutions from a human rights perspective, while
also sharing positive experiences in this area.
The event will also feature an award ceremony for winners of a
research competition on the topic "Climate Change and Human
Rights," initiated by the Ombudsperson and the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP).
Panel sessions will cover various topics, including "Strategies
to support national human rights institutions and ombudsmen in
climate change initiatives," "Public access to information on
climate change and its impacts," "Multilateral cooperation in
combating climate change," "The climate change connection with
explosive remnants of war and mine contamination" and "Promoting
business accountability in the context of climate change".
The forum will continue its work tomorrow.
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