BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. Azerbaijan shows
how climate leadership can create dynamics at a global level, UN
Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Dmytro Shlapachenko, said
during the 2026 Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW 2026), Trend's correspondent
reports from the event.


According to him, Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 has put the
country at the center of global climate diplomacy, and this
momentum is being continued within the framework of the Baku
Climate Action Week.


"We have witnessed how climate leadership in Azerbaijan can
create momentum. COP29 has put the country at the center of global
climate diplomacy, and this momentum is being continued through the
Baku Climate Action Week, as well as broader efforts to promote
sustainable development and climate action," said Shlapachenko.


The UN official noted that the main issue now is to translate
the achieved momentum into concrete and measurable results.


"The main challenge facing us on a global scale is to translate
the momentum that we have all created into measurable results," he
stressed.


Shlapachenko said that in the second decade of the Paris
Agreement, the main issue is not only the adoption of new climate
commitments, but also the acceleration of their implementation.


"The world has made significant progress over the past decade.
Climate action has moved from the margins to the center of global
policy discussions. Renewable energy is expanding at an
unprecedented pace, awareness is growing, and countries continue to
demonstrate their commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement,
but science shows that we are not moving fast enough," he said.


According to him, the increased likelihood of exceeding the
1.5°C limit should not lead to a postponement of climate
action.


"On the contrary, it should strengthen our resolve. Our
collective responsibility is to limit the scale and duration of
temperature increase exceeding the 1.5°C limit, return global
temperatures below this limit as soon as possible, and avoid
irreversible tipping points," Shlapachenko emphasized.







The UN official noted that the main directions of climate action
are reducing emissions, strengthening adaptation and resilience to
climate change, as well as ensuring access to affordable finance
for developing countries.


He said that reducing the cost of capital, mobilizing private
investment, and strengthening multilateral development banks are
essential for developing countries to achieve ambitious climate
goals.


"After COP31, climate leadership will not be measured by the
promises we make. It will be measured by the emissions we reduce,
the resilience we create, the finance we mobilize, and the people
and their livelihoods we protect," added Shlapachenko.


The third day of the Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026)
is underway.


The program of the third day will focus on issues such as the
transition from climate commitments to concrete action, climate
financing, youth participation in climate processes, artificial
intelligence and climate technologies, energy efficiency, methane
emissions reduction, water resources management, and cultural
heritage protection.


Representatives of governments and international organizations,
experts, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil
society from various countries are attending the events.


Now in its third year, Baku Climate Action Week is being held in
parallel with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) Climate Week for the first time this year. The Fourth
Climate Week and Baku Climate Action Week will feature a series of
sessions, panel discussions and other events on climate change,
climate finance, sustainable development and accelerating climate
action.


BCAW 2026 will continue until September 11.