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Rabat – Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch joined leaders from around the world today at the opening of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, a global summit aimed at advancing the fight against climate change.
Welcomed at Baku’s Olympic Stadium by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Akhannouch leads Morocco’s delegation alongside Minister of Energy and Sustainable Development Leila Benali and Moroccan Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohamed Adil Embarch.
The Moroccan delegation toured the Kingdom of Morocco and Azerbaijan pavilions within the “Blue Zone” of the stadium, where each country showcased their recent progress in climate action.
Morocco, a recognized leader in renewable energy, highlighted achievements aimed at mitigating climate impacts, an urgent agenda item as leaders confront the challenge of accelerating climate action globally.
Running through November 22, COP29 provides a pivotal platform for nations to assess global progress on climate goals and negotiate the next steps for managing climate impacts.
Read also: COP29 Opens in Baku Amid Absence of Major Polluting Countries’ Leaders
Key discussions are expected to center around climate financing, considered critical for helping vulnerable nations reduce emissions and safeguard communities from climate-related threats.
With heatwaves, floods, and other extreme events intensifying, this summit emphasizes the pressing need for actionable commitments from all parties.
Recent reports published by leading environmental organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), underscore the gravity of the climate crisis.
The 2024 UNEP Emissions Gap Report, released in October, warns that greenhouse gas emissions are still alarmingly high, with global temperatures on track to exceed the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The report reveals that, despite national pledges, global emissions have continued to climb. Between 2022 and 2023, emissions rose by 1.3°C, setting a record high of 57.1 gigatons of CO₂.
Among the largest contributors, the G20 nations, representing 77% of global emissions, saw a continued rise, with China, the United States, and India together accounting for nearly half of global emissions.
Notably absent from this year’s high-level meetings are leaders from several major emitters, including China, the United States, and India, raising questions about the strength of global cooperation at COP29.
French President Emmanuel Macron will also be absent, citing diplomatic tensions with Azerbaijan.
