ACTIVISTS HAVE FOUNDED COP29 - CLIMATE OF JUSTICE INITIATIVE
20.02.2024 / NGOs consider COP29 as an opportunity to promote civil liberties, public participation, and environmental justice
As is known, the 29th session of the UN Global Conference on Climate Change (COP29 - Conference of the Parties) is scheduled for November 2024 in Azerbaijan. The 2-week conference will host tens of thousands of foreign guests, including world leaders, high-ranking politicians, heads of international organizations, and representatives from media and NGOs.
COP29 will be the first global conference held in Azerbaijan after it acquires territorial integrity and the most significant international event since its independence. Beyond environmental concerns, the hosting of COP29 holds substantial political and economic significance for the country.
However, Azerbaijan, which will host such a significant global event as COP29, has many challenges related to civil rights and environmental issues. These problems include politically motivated arrests, shrinking space for civil society, the closing of land borders for citizens without reasonable justification after the coronavirus pandemic, the ineffectiveness of the government's actions against domestic violence, corruption, oil pollution in the Absheron peninsula, and depletion of water resources.
Given these challenges, the Non-Governmental Organizations operating in Azerbaijan - Public Association for Assistance to Free Economy, EcoFront, Women's Empowerment Center, Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, and Institute for Citizens Rights, consider COP29 as an opportunity to promote civil liberties, public participation, and environmental justice in Azerbaijan and establish the COP29 - Climate of Justice Initiative to address joint analytical, advocacy, and collaborative activities.
Founding statement of COP29 - Climate of Justice Initiative