Photo: UN Climate Change – Kiara Worth
Read our Regional Statement for COP29
On November 12 and 13, a high-level segment took place at COP29 (the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Baku. Presidents and other high-level representatives delivered statements on behalf of their countries. It was a unique opportunity to hear a country’s position on the climate crisis in three minutes (as per the established time limit).
We asked our members to comment on the speeches of their countries’ top officials. Armenia and Ukraine were not represented in this segment, so reactions are prepared for nine countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, which are the geographical focus of our regional Climate Action Network unit.
AZERBAIJAN
Azerbaijan is hosting COP29. President Ilham Aliyev represented the country at the high-level segment.
Video of the speech (with translation into Azerbaijani) begins at 03:19:00
Javid Gara, Ecofront:
“What Mr. President said was all correct, but it shouldn’t have been all he said. His speech caused division among the participants and could be used as an excuse for some countries to evade their climate responsibilities.
He did not invite world nations to adopt more ambitious emissions reduction commitments or take on greater climate finance obligations. A more positive and collaborative speech would have been more helpful than a defensive tone and blame-shifting.”
BELARUS
President Alexander Lukashenko represented Belarus at the high-level segment.
Text of the statement (in Russian)
Iryna Ponedelnik, Green Network:
“Even though I am in opposition to Lukashenko’s regime, I can’t help but note that he has raised some really important issues. The first is that global efforts have so far led nowhere. Second, he touched upon the situation of Belarusian agriculture in the changing climate. This is indeed a sector where we can pursue low-carbon development. However, he claimed that Belarus has experience in this direction, but it isn’t: we have nothing to share here! I hope that both Lukashenko’s government and the democratic forces in Belarus will start to pay more attention to improving the sustainability of agriculture.
The third important emphasis in Lukashenko’s speech for me is the green economy. We did have plans to launch it in 2021, and civil society was involved in the development of the strategy at that time. But then, with the war and sanctions, it came to naught and nothing was done. It is certainly good that he is considering greening the economy again — apparently, the sanctions have taken effect, there is no money in the country, Russia no longer supports us financially and – if you want to live, you have to be smart. I hope that Lukashenko’s government has begun to feel the serious limitations and realized that something must be done about it.”
GEORGIA
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze represented Georgia at the high-level segment.
Text of the statement (in English)
Nugzar Kokhreidze, non-profit organization RICDOG:
“For years now, the Georgian leadership’s speeches have been repeating common truths. Irakli Kobakhidze’s speech was not without a “lecture” on the need to save the planet. One can say that only general promises about Georgia’s contribution to the fight against climate change were made. At the same time, Prime Minister Kobakhidze did not specify what this contribution would be. That is: what percentage of reduction will be included in the new NDCs (nationally determined contribution)?
That Global South countries want and welcome an increase in climate finance from the Global North is clear and obvious. To me, it seems not responsible not to indicate what the country’s investments in this planetary problem will be. At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of assistance from the EU, which seems doubtful in the near future, as relations between the ruling party, represented by Prime Minister Kobakhidze, and the EU are currently strained, and the EU has de facto suspended Georgia’s candidacy process. The process of harmonization of Georgian legislation with the EU legislation, which the Prime Minister managed to refer to in his speech, is in serious doubt.”
KAZAKHSTAN
President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev represented Kazakhstan at the high-level segment.
Text of the statement (in English)
Svetlana Mogilyuk, public association “ECOM”:
“It is pleasant that in his speech, the President of Kazakhstan clearly noted the needs of Central Asia regarding climate change. It is very important for the regional voice to be confidently heard at such global meetings. The President also outlined an extremely important task for us: to improve water management. Kazakhstan has great potential in this regard — through improving water use efficiency. But so far, as one of the water-deficient countries in the world, we waste a lot of water per capita.
At the same time, the plans to use nuclear energy are very alarming. This decision will entail not only risks for the environment, but also great financial costs. It is especially sad that the unresolved issue of radioactive waste will be a heavy burden for future generations! Kazakhstan has a great but underutilized resource — energy efficiency improvement. Instead of expanding coal-fired plants and building nuclear power plants, our country should, first of all, direct its efforts and finances to a more efficient use of the energy already produced. And then we could make a serious contribution to the global climate process by reducing the use of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, and the overall burden on the environment”.
Vadim Ni, Social-Ecological Foundation:
“During the national referendum on nuclear power plant construction that took place in Kazakhstan in October this year, we took a stand against nuclear power. We believe that its inclusion as a low-carbon development option is neither an environmentally sustainable nor equitable energy transition.
Nuclear power shifts the problem with greenhouse gas emissions from the present generation to many future generations, who will have to deal with the accumulated radioactive waste from their activities. The huge amount of investment required, the long period of design and construction of nuclear power plants makes the process extremely opaque in terms of cost and irrelevant in terms of the timing of energy production. The fact that nuclear plants are being built around the world by a small circle of powerful states makes other states dependent on them. Not surprisingly, local communities perceive this transition as an unfair and externally imposed choice.”
KYRGYZSTAN
President Sadyr Zhaparov represented the country at the high-level segment.
Text of the statement (in English)
MoveGreen Community Association:
“We support the ambitious targets announced to reduce emissions by 44% by 2030, subject to international support. The plans to achieve carbon neutrality by developing renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, improving heat supply systems, and raising public awareness of the need to reduce emissions in the energy sector are a positive signal.
At the same time, we express concern about plans to reduce coal consumption through gasification, since replacing coal with gas is only a temporary measure that prolongs dependence on fossil fuels.
In the Head of State’s statement, we would like to hear about the role of civil society in achieving climate justice. Activists must have a voice in climate decision-making. Civil society is a valuable resource of knowledge and expertise, and citizen engagement on the climate agenda is a key factor in the successful implementation of climate policy.
We call on the government to reconsider gasification plans and ensure full public participation in climate policy to increase accountability and transparency in the use of climate finance.”
MOLDOVA
President Maia Sandu represented Moldova at the high-level segment.
Text of the statement (in English)
Elena Culighin, National Environmental Center:
“The message effectively emphasizes Moldova’s vulnerability to climate change, highlighting the paradox that a country with minimal emissions is one of the most affected by climate change in Europe.
Moldova is only minimally involved in causing the problem but is feeling its effects to a large extent. The emphasis on climate equality in the Head of State’s statement reinforces Moldova’s call for fair support from richer countries.
President Sandu was absolutely right to say that we must not forget about Moldova’s vulnerable groups, especially rural communities, and farmers, who are already facing economic and social difficulties due to the changing climate.
The President mentioned Moldova’s efforts in adaptation and resilience building, such as the National Reforestation Program, but did not mention projects on energy efficiency, watershed restoration and biodiversity conservation. Including these would have portrayed our country as an active regional leader in sustainable development, despite having limited resources to do so. Like other particularly vulnerable countries, Moldova needs quick access to finance.”
RUSSIA
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin represented Russia at the high-level segment.
Video of the speech
Vladimir Slivyak, group “Ecodefense!”:
“Contrary to statements at COP29, Russia remains a climate outsider. Russia talks about carbon neutrality by 2060 but has no realistic plan to achieve this goal. The country’s development strategies call for a significant increase in fossil fuel production, not a reduction, as carbon neutrality requires.
The share of renewable energy in Russia is below 1%, but that doesn’t stop the Russian Prime Minister from claiming in Baku that 85% of the country’s energy balance is “clean” energy. While Russia plays with words to disguise its lack of action, time is running out and the climate crisis is deepening.”
TAJIKISTAN
President Emomali Rahmon represented the country at the high-level segment.
Text of the statement (in Russian)
(Comment pending)
UZBEKISTAN
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev represented the country at the high-level segment.
Text of the statement (in English)
Nargis Kosymova, public association “Ekolog”:
“President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized Uzbekistan’s readiness for open dialogue and partnership. His speech reflected of our country’s great ambitions in the field of climate action.
The head of state voiced several initiatives. He called on the United Nations to develop a Declaration of Commitments to ensure the health and environmental safety of river ecosystems. The President also proposed creating two new structures in Uzbekistan: a regional genetic resources bank, which would contribute to improving the sustainability of crop production, and a UN innovation agro-industrial hub for landlocked countries.
President Mirziyoyev also has put forward an initiative to establish the Alliance of World Climate Capitals, which would become a platform for transferring advanced knowledge and practices for sustainable development of megacities and cities, and to hold its first forum in Tashkent.”
