Azernews.Az

Akbar Novruz

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On November 11, 2024, at the opening of COP29, the Azerbaijani government signed the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action, committing to prioritize children in its climate policies, Azernews reports.

The signing ceremony included Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and COP29 President; Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director; Leyla Hasanova, COP29 Youth Climate Advocate; government officials; and youth representatives.

UNICEF lauded this commitment, noting the declaration as the first local and global framework to fast-track child-centered climate policies. Highlighting the urgency, UNICEF reported that around one billion children globally face high vulnerability due to climate change impacts.

Minister Babayev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to engaging youth in climate action, saying, “We call on everyone to consider how climate actions can contribute to a more sustainable future for children and youth.” UNICEF’s Catherine Russell underscored the need for climate policies that safeguard children’s future, describing Azerbaijan’s signing as “a step that puts children at the center of the climate agenda.”

UNICEF is now calling on other countries to join this declaration, pledging to help nations build climate-resilient systems in education, social protection, and healthcare to better support vulnerable children.