Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW2026) featured a roundtable discussion titled “Mobilizing Public and Private Climate Finance for Peace, Relief and Recovery.”

Addressing the roundtable, Mukhtar Babayev, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues and President of COP29, emphasized that the main priority is to translate international commitments into practical, country-led actions.

According to him, climate change is having serious consequences for countries already facing fragility, conflict, forced displacement, and humanitarian needs, particularly the least developed countries and small island states.

“This places additional pressure on vulnerable communities, livelihoods, food and water security, development, and long-term stability,” Babayev added.

Subsequently, Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister and COP29 Lead Negotiator, delivered his remarks, stating: “Climate change is no longer merely an environmental challenge—it has become a critical threat to global peace and security. The increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, including droughts, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels, have severe repercussions on countries, particularly those in conflict-prone regions.”

Other keynote speakers included Amjad Abdulla, Director General of the Climate Change Department at the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy of Maldives, and Maika Nova Yudha, Representative of the Green Climate Fund.