As part of COP29, the Baku Declaration on the SPECA Climate-Smart Cities Forum was signed during the Roundtable Meeting.
Within the framework of COP29, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) hosted the Roundtable of Green City Leaders for the SPECA Region. The Roundtable was organized to share best practices in urban climate action, foster dialogue, promote innovative approaches, and implement financial solutions in this area. The event was attended by representatives of relevant Azerbaijani government agencies, SPECA member countries, the United Nations, and international financial institutions.
At the event, Alkis Drakinos, EBRD Regional Director for the Caucasus, Lin O'Grady, Head of the Bank’s Green Cities Program, and Elmar Mammadov, Co-Chair of the COP29 Action Agenda Global Initiatives Group, delivered opening remarks. They shared their views on the effective collaboration within the SPECA framework on climate-related issues.
During the panel sessions held as part of the event, representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) highlighted the importance of partnership initiatives under the SPECA framework for addressing climate issues faced by countries and cities. It was noted that cities are at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and strengthening cooperation among them is crucial for the region to overcome challenges in this area. The active involvement of relevant cities in SPECA countries in this vital initiative is essential for developing and implementing climate solutions.
Head of the Ganja City Executive Authority Niyazi Bayramov and the First Deputy Chairman of Tajikistan's Dushanbe City Jamshid Tabarzoda stated that the SPECA Climate Cities Forum would provide opportunities for all participating cities to effectively achieve the goals set forth.
Following the Roundtable, the Baku Declaration on the SPECA Climate-Smart Cities Forum was signed. The document outlines close cooperation among participating cities to achieve common goals in the field of climate.
