COP29 chair passes leadership to COP30, urges countries to keep promises

Azerbaijan has officially handed over the COP chairmanship to Brazil. Under President Ilham Aliyev, COP29 worked to bring countries together, act as a fair mediator, and aim for the highest climate goals.

At the opening ceremony of COP30 in Belem, COP29 Chair Muxtar Babayev urged countries to honour commitments made in previous COP meetings. He made the call while formally passing leadership to Brazil and COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago.

Babayev highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in the climate process and reminded participants of last year’s historic Baku Finance Goal agreed at COP29. He said, “The world now needs concrete action, not just debate. These agreements are collective, but implementing them depends on each country’s own efforts.”

On climate finance, Babayev set out three key milestones for supporting developing countries:

1. Double adaptation funding by 2025;
2. Triple funds from UN climate sources by 2030;
3. Mobilise at least $300 billion annually by 2035.

He stressed that countries must submit their next national climate plans, warning, “Without the required funding, countries cannot cut emissions or protect their communities.” He added, “The changing world cannot be an excuse to step back. Promises made must be kept.”

Babayev also cautioned that backtracking in the first year could “undermine the entire process,” while emphasising that keeping past promises would rebuild trust and show that new agreements are meaningful.

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