Azernews.Az

Akbar Novruz

Read more

Azerbaijan is taking steps to enhance energy efficiency and environmental protection by integrating legislative measures into its national framework. At a public hearing in the Milli Majlis on “Energy Efficiency: Results and Expectations”, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov emphasized the importance of legislative backing for energy-saving initiatives, Azernews reports.

Citing Articles 14 and 39 of the Constitution, Karimov highlighted that everyone has the right to live in a healthy environment and that natural resources belong to the people, placing a duty on the state to ensure their protection and efficient use. In this context, he deemed the Ministry of Energy’s proposed addition to the Law “On the Efficient Use of Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency” as a necessary and timely measure.

According to the Deputy Minister, legislative support for energy efficiency serves multiple purposes:

Economic benefits – Formalizing energy efficiency programs helps reduce energy consumption, lowering costs for enterprises and households while easing the load on the electricity grid.
Energy security – While Azerbaijan has low dependence on energy imports, enhanced efficiency measures will further strengthen the country's resilience to external shocks.
Karimov also pointed to Azerbaijan’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, noting that Article 4, paragraph 19 encourages nations to develop Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategies (LTS). As of June 1, 2024, 107 countries have set net-zero emissions targets for 2045-2070, covering 82% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Azerbaijan is currently updating its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the joint efforts of the Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources and Energy, aligning with global climate commitments.