BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. Azerbaijan has
significant potential for developing a green economy, including
opportunities in renewable energy, sustainable transport, and
circular economic models, Arnold Kreilhuber, Director of the Europe
Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said in
an interview with Trend.


Kreilhuber noted that Azerbaijan plays a significant role in the
wider South Caucasus and Caspian Sea region.


"While hydrocarbons have driven economic growth, Azerbaijan
plans to diversify its economy through investments in renewable
energy, transport infrastructure, and digitalization, which have
the potential to further enhance its strategic geographic position
linking Europe and Asia and help generate economic, social, and
environmental benefits while supporting long-term development
goals," he said.


According to him, several sectors in Azerbaijan show strong
potential.


"Renewable energy stands out due to significant solar and wind
resources, especially in the Caspian coastal areas. Investments in
green transport and logistics, including electrification of
corridors and sustainable ports and railways, can also support
low-carbon trade," Kreilhuber said.


He noted that generally, there is potential for advancing and
incentivizing more circular economic models, impacting waste
generation and improving waste management, for example, through
recycling systems, plastic reduction, and extended producer
responsibility schemes.


"Climate-smart farming, soil restoration, and efficient
irrigation are among the sustainable agriculture and land
management options that can help reduce land degradation and
desertification. Furthermore, ecosystem restoration and
nature-based solutions can provide coastal and wetland protection,
forest landscape restoration, and climate adaptation, as well as
flood and drought risk reduction.


UNEP, as a member of the UN Country Team in Azerbaijan, works in
close collaboration with sister UN entities and the government.


In this context, UNEP will help promote ecosystem protection and
climate resilience, green growth, and a just transition as a
strategic national priority," he added.


He emphasized that in order to realize this plan by 2030, UNEP
stands ready to support Azerbaijan, especially in the areas of
strengthened national policies and institutional capacities to
enhance data-driven preparedness, response, and resilience to
climate and environment-related risks and hazards across key
sectors.







"Such measures would include strengthening environmental impact
assessment and strategic environmental assessment systems,
alongside improved industrial emissions monitoring and reporting
aligned with international standards.


This, in turn, would help in promoting cleaner production
technologies, energy efficiency upgrades, and responsible water
stewardship, particularly in extractive and heavy industrial
sectors. Pollution control and chemical management, including the
tracking of hazardous waste, are also critical. In addition, the
inclusion of the private sector in such measures could include
corporate environmental disclosure, enhancing environmental,
social, and governance practices, and making use of carbon pricing
mechanisms or internal carbon accounting. These efforts should be
supported by capacity-building for both regulators and industry,"
Kreilhuber said.


He noted that Azerbaijan, like every other country, needs to
choose its own path to sustainability, based on its resources,
needs, and vision.


"Building on Azerbaijan’s legacy as host of the Climate Change
COP29 in 2024, this can include accelerating the deployment of
renewable energy through enabling policies and private-sector
partnerships, as well as integrating climate and biodiversity
objectives into national development strategies. Or the scaling up
of green finance instruments, such as green bonds, blended finance,
and climate funds, and enhancing data systems for emissions,
ecosystems, and pollution could also be considered.


In addition, supporting innovation and small and medium-sized
enterprises in clean technologies and promoting public-private
partnerships for circular economy solutions can help drive green
growth," he noted.


According to him, UNEP proudly supports the littoral States of
the Caspian Sea through the Tehran Convention for the protection of
the marine environment of the Caspian Sea, and therefore, we would
also encourage the continued strengthening of regional cooperation
on shared ecosystems.


"Finally, to ensure that the people of Azerbaijan increasingly
benefit from inclusive green growth, protected ecosystems, and
climate resilience, it is important that national policies are
aligned with the long-term sustainability and environmental targets
Azerbaijan has set itself, including through its Nationally
Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and other
multilateral environmental agreements Azerbaijan is a party to,"
Kreilhuber concluded.


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