There should be a four-dimension preparation process for COP. The first is the subject of negotiations, the second is the operational agenda of the COP Presidency, the third is the correct coverage of both of these - communication, and the fourth is logistics. The negotiation topic is the most critical aspect, and its points are provided to Azerbaijan by the UN Climate Change Secretariat. There are three climate agreements associated with COPs: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and two agreements derived from it (the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement). Currently, the world is experiencing the problem of global warming, caused by the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere due to human activity. We need to reduce and eliminate these greenhouse gases (mitigation) to control temperature rise, and at the same time, take steps for adjusting (adaptation) to temperature increases. Therefore, the main topics of the COP are mitigation and adaptation. Since the 1850s, deve loped countries, which have been responsible for emitting the most greenhouse gases due to their economic growth, emphasize mitigation. Developing countries, on the other hand, focus more on adaptation, reasoning that we are facing the consequences of a problem we didn't cause, and thus, those responsible should provide funding to us. However, both aspects are crucial: ultimately, emissions of greenhouse gases must be reduced, or the world will lose control. At the same time, countries where the consequences are already spiraling out of control-primarily those with minimal responsibility for emissions-should receive assistance for adaptation. The three climate agreements I mentioned above impose implementation obligations on the parties in terms of mitigation and adaptation. The essence of the COP conferences is to achieve a solution to the problems that arise when implementing the agreements. Therefore, the negotiation process is the backbone of this work and the decisions taken are based on consensus. Ther e are 198 parties to the climate change treaty, and all parties must agree to take decisions. The ownership of the mentioned agreements and their implementation is the UN Climate Change Secretariat. Taking into account the decisions made and not made in the previous COPs, the Secretariat turns the problems to be solved into mandates and gives them to the host country. The host country, together with the Secretariat, creates conditions for making decisions in the direction of solving these problems. Therefore, negotiations are the most important issue. Returning to your question, our country is managing, coordinating, and leading the negotiation process in a procedural sense quite successfully. There are many examples of this. For instance, we proposed some original ideas to advance the processes related to the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). We ensured the implementation of activities for document preparation in various regions together with several countries. Later, when disagreements arose among count ries on the topic of losses and damages, we resolved them creatively. We brought the parties together multiple times, creating a conducive environment for negotiations in Azerbaijan, etc. The second issue is the action agenda. Here, we have presented the 14+2+2 initiative. Fourteen initiatives come from the COP29 Presidency, two from our High-Level Champion, and two from the Youth Climate Champion. Unlike the negotiations, the topics on the action agenda are entirely Azerbaijan's initiatives and do not require consensus. "Action" supports the "Negotiations" while also safeguarding them. The choice of words is intentional-while the outcome of negotiations may be uncertain, there is no reason why action should not produce results. The justified view of the global community and climate activists is that negotiations will take their course, but every year we must take at least one step forward. The action agenda is a set of initiatives born from this philosophy and vision. - How have Azerbaijan's initiatives be en accepted? - Azerbaijan has introduced initiatives that have created significant resonance on the activity agenda. For the majority of our initiatives, we have prepared permanent declarations and documents, and they have already been announced as open for signing. One of the key points here is that these initiatives are not limited to November of this year but are intended to be institutionalized and continued in the future, turning COP29 and Azerbaijan's contribution to solving climate issues into a lasting legacy. This is the goal. - What can be said about the third issue, that is, communication? - The goal of communication is the calibrate media relations to achieve results in climate negotiations. While informing both domestic and international audiences is valuable in itself, the ultimate objective in all cases is to achieve outcomes in the negotiations. Our vision is that ambitious climate action documents must be put forward, and in parallel with this, ambitious climate financing should be provide d. Both processes are parallel in terms of importance and priority. All of this must be carried out in solidarity. Solidarity creates a solid conceptual foundation for the processes. Solidarity means collective action. Without this, solving the climate issue is impossible because the world shares one atmosphere. Even if a country with a large economy does not participate in climate solutions, the efforts of other countries become meaningless. Even if others reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero, the emissions from a single large country can still cause significant problems. Therefore, collective action is essential. Solidarity also means the fair distribution of responsibilities and supporting countries with fewer resources in climate actions. Without assistance, African countries, less developed nations, and small island states may fall behind, losing their place in the group, club, or collective. The essence of our slogan is: Let's show solidarity for a green world. Our communication strategy integrates a ll these issues and is aimed at ensuring the right signals are sent to achieve this outcome. - You would also touch on the importance of logistics. - It involves the creation of physical infrastructure, managing visas, transportation, and food, it is a vast area. Let me give a small example. The stadium where the COP conference will be held will generate a certain carbon footprint. We need to minimize this and, if possible, eliminate it. For instance, special care must be taken to use local food, as it reduces fuel consumption for transportation. The electricity powering the venue should come from green sources, and so on. However, among the four key areas we mentioned, Azerbaijan's greatest expertise lies in logistics. Our steps in the field of logistics are truly commendable. It is sometimes said that other countries have two years to prepare for COP, but we only have one year. The biggest challenge here is logistics; for other issues, one year is enough to build momentum. But creating massive infrastruct ure and solving transportation, food, accommodation, and visa issues in less than a year was the most difficult part. In this area, Azerbaijan shows outstanding performance. - In what way is the UN supporting Azerbaijan to organize this event? - The UN's budget is formed through funding from member states, and like all public organizations, it faces financial challenges. Specifically, the negotiation process is conducted jointly with the UN, meaning we are working shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Many decisions are made collaboratively, and the relations are regulated through agreements. The blue zone, which will be established within the event area, will be under the UN's jurisdiction. Even security matters within the "Blue Zone" fall under the responsibility of the UN's specialized body. Even the list of media organizations that will cover the processes here is compiled by the UN, which grants or denies accreditation to them. If anyone has objections on this matter, they should not be directed to the Azer baijani side. The same logic applies to climate activists. Of course, Azerbaijan has granted them these rights within the framework of its sovereign decision-making authority, but the tradition of COP events has generally formed this way. We are pleased with our cooperation with the UN. However, Azerbaijan is, of course, the driving force. The COP is not just an event that will happen in November. The COP is a global climate negotiation process, but its most intense, final phase will take place in November. Before COP-29, many decisions should have been made so that the momentum to be created, and the compromises to be made, would determine the success of the last stage. The issues are so complex that decisions cannot be made within 2 weeks. It is not easy to reconcile the national interests of 198 countries in making decisions that will affect the redrawing of geo-economic and geo-political maps, the results of which will be measured in trillions of dollars. Source: Azeri-Press news agency