Highlights from Previous Days
COP29 continues to deliver pivotal developments shaping the climate agenda for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. From ambitious agreements on renewable energy to contentious proposals on nuclear power, these talks underscore the critical decisions nations must make in their quest for a sustainable future.
Below, we present the day’s key highlights and perspectives defining the region’s role in global climate action.
Papa Calls to Action on Justice and Climate
On the third day of COP29 Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, delivered Pope Francis’ message urging urgent action to protect the environment and support the world’s poorest nations.
Pope Francis emphasised the need for developed countries to shoulder their share of historical responsibility and cancel the debts of poorer nations:
“This is not a matter of charity, but of justice.”
He stressed that time is running out, and protecting creation is one of the most pressing issues of our era, intrinsically linked to global peace. In an era of growing disenchantment with international institutions, the Pope called for building bridges, not walls.
Presidency Event: Tripling Nuclear Energy by 2050
At the high-level event “Advancing the Effort to Triple Nuclear Energy,” six more countries, including Kazakhstan, joined the declaration to triple nuclear energy by 2050. The original declaration, signed at COP28 in Dubai, saw 25 countries, including Armenia and Ukraine, endorse it.
Comment from Vladimir Slivyak, Co-chair of “Ecodefense!”:
“The initiative to triple global nuclear capacity is both unrealistic and deeply harmful. With over 400 nuclear reactors globally, half are nearing decommissioning within the next decade. To achieve tripling by 2050, a new reactor would need to be built every week — something that is neither technically nor financially feasible.
According to investment bank Lazard, nuclear power is the most expensive energy source, far exceeding renewables. New reactors cost around $10 billion on average, while recent U.S. projects exceeded $17 billion per reactor. Small modular reactors, if ever realised, will be even costlier.
The real harm lies in diverting enormous resources from scaling up renewable energy. Choosing nuclear power will make limiting warming to 1.5–2°C impossible.”
Trilateral Green Energy Agreement: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
Leaders from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed the “Agreement on Strategic Partnership in the Development and Transmission of Green Energy.” The agreement involves building an undersea cable across the Caspian Sea, creating a corridor for green energy from Central Asia to Azerbaijan and beyond to Europe.
President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan:
“The agreement we have signed today opens new opportunities for cooperation between the regions of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
In fact, the integration processes, the processes related to transportation, energy, and trade between the regions of Central Asia and the Caucasus allow us to say that these two regions are acting in a synchronised manner in many areas, including in the field of green energy development..”
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan:
“The document ushers ample opportunities for the integration of the energy systems of our states and for creation of reliable corridors for the supply of environmentally friendly energy to European and other markets. Kazakhstan plays an extremely important role in this as a major transit territory. The practical fruition of this agreement will contribute to the development of the Middle Corridor as a green bridge connecting our economies.”
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan:
“Renewable energy is not just an economic goal. It is our contribution to the future, the result of our sense of responsibility to future generations. I would like to emphasize the environmental significance of this project. The energy to be transmitted is wind and solar energy, a renewable and clean source that will reduce the impact on the climate.”
Bilateral Talks: Azerbaijan and Russia
Azerbaijan and Russia are exploring new areas of cooperation, particularly in the oil and gas sector. The bilateral meeting took place between Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. It is painful to see that a climate summit, which should focus on phasing out fossil fuels, is being used as a platform for striking new deals on dirty energy.
Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan:
“Azerbaijan is the birthplace of oil and gas, and this legacy remains relevant today. Russia, as a leader in the energy sector, continues to play a key role in our mutual initiatives.”
Comment from Olha Boiko, CAN EECCA Coordinator:
“We recognize that UN climate conferences have often been used to facilitate new fossil fuel deals, as was evident at COP28. This pattern continues in regions heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
At COP29, we emphasise to governments that there is a viable alternative: prioritising energy efficiency and decentralised renewable energy. These investments offer the promise of a healthier, safer, and more stable future for all.”
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This daily recap captures just a glimpse of the dynamic activities and discussions taking place at COP29. Stay tuned for the highlights from the next day!
Check our CAN EECCA’s Position on Nuclear Energy
Don’t forget to read CAN’s ECO Bulletin for November 13.
