An Interagency Working Group is being established to improve the drafts of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Climate,” and the “Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy.”
elchi reports, citing the Cabinet of Ministers, that this was announced at the meeting of the State Commission on Climate Change.
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Commission Samir Sharifov opened the meeting, noting that Azerbaijan began actively participating in the joint fight against global climate challenges by joining the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1995.
Remaining committed to its obligations under the Paris Agreement, the country has set more ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, establishing a 40 percent reduction in emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 as a key priority in its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document. This approach demonstrates Azerbaijan’s consistent policy toward transitioning to a low-carbon development model and minimizing the impacts of climate change.
It was noted that the COP29 conference, successfully held in Baku from November 11-22, 2024, was marked by important and historic decisions on many pending issues. Azerbaijan has contributed to the joint efforts demonstrated by the vast majority of world countries against the consequences of global climate change. It was in Baku that a consensus was reached on the “New Collective Quantified Goal,” a key expectation of developing countries. According to the decision adopted in Baku, the annual target for climate finance directed to developing countries from all public and private sources by 2035 has been set at 1.3 trillion US dollars.
At the Commission meeting, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources presented the draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Climate” and the draft “Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy,” while the Ministry of Economy presented on the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its potential economic impacts, followed by discussions on these presentations.
Speaking at the State Commission meeting, Mukhtar Babayev, the President of Azerbaijan’s representative for climate issues, stated that it is essential to finalize the country’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LTS) and submit it for approval in the near future.
He emphasized that the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism aims to level the playing field by accounting for the carbon intensity of imported products. In this regard, strengthening national climate policy is of great importance for protecting the country’s export potential and modernizing industry.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Commission members about the outcomes of the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, and the measures implemented by Azerbaijan in the field of combating climate change. At the same time, the necessity for relevant agencies to begin preparations for the COP31 session, to be held in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9–20, 2026, in a timely manner was emphasized.
At the conclusion of the meeting, State Commission Chairman Samir Sharifov adopted decisions on the preparation of an action plan for the upcoming 31st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to be submitted to the Commission shortly, as well as the establishment of an Interagency Working Group to improve the drafts of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Climate,” and the “Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy.”