BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. Azerbaijan is
taking consistent steps to diversify its economy, develop human
capital and promote education and innovation in line with the
country’s sustainable development policy, Speaker of Azerbaijan’s
Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said.
According to the Press and Public Relations Department of the
Milli Majlis (Parliament), Gafarova made the remarks during a
speech at Columbia University in the United States on “Translating
Global Commitments into National Action: Parliament, Sustainable
Development and Azerbaijan’s Climate Agenda” as part of her working
visit to the country.
The speaker highlighted the importance of translating global
commitments into concrete policies and action at the national
level.
She said that although the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
are global in nature, their implementation primarily depends on
national policies, legislation and concrete projects. In this
regard, aligning global targets with national priorities and
ensuring the sustainability of achieved results are of particular
importance.
Gafarova noted that Azerbaijan is taking consistent steps to
diversify its economy, develop human capital and promote education
and innovation in line with its sustainable development policy.
She emphasized that people are at the heart of sustainable
development, highlighting the importance of education, the
development of professional skills, decent work, equal
opportunities and the active participation of young people in these
processes.
Gafarova said parliaments play an important role in implementing
global commitments at the national level. She noted that
parliamentary legislative, budgetary and oversight functions help
establish a favorable legal and institutional framework for
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Touching on Azerbaijan’s climate agenda, she said the link
between energy, climate and development is of major importance for
the country. While traditional energy resources continue to play an
important role in economic development, she noted that developing
renewable energy sources and accelerating the energy transition are
also among Azerbaijan’s key priorities.
The speech also highlighted Azerbaijan’s climate targets under
its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), including a planned
40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared
with 1990 levels. The importance of improving the legislative
framework and strengthening parliamentary oversight in achieving
these targets was emphasized.
Gafarova also touched on the outcomes of the COP29 climate
conference held in Baku in 2024 and mechanisms for implementing
global commitments, stressing the importance of supporting
international ambitions with practical tools.
Speaking about the role of parliaments in this process, Gafarova
said international agreements are not the end of the process but
only the beginning. While governments conduct international
negotiations, the decisions adopted require action at the national
level, she said.
In this regard, she emphasized that parliamentary legislative,
budgetary analysis and oversight functions are crucial to ensuring
the efficient use of public resources. She also noted that the
Parliamentary Meeting organized in Baku by the Inter-Parliamentary
Union (IPU) and the Milli Majlis during COP29 made a significant
contribution to exchanging experience in this area.
Speaking about Azerbaijan’s development path and a sustainable
future, Gafarova said the country’s transition to clean energy and
economic diversification require sustained investment, strong human
capital and innovation. She noted that governments, businesses,
universities and civil society need to join forces to implement
this transformation.
Concluding her speech, Gafarova said the main goal is to turn
today’s commitments into practical and meaningful results for
future generations.
