A high-level retreat for Heads of Delegation (HOD) was held in Shamakhi on July 26-27 to discuss key issues on the COP29 agenda. The event brought together the chair of the Subsidiary Body for Science and Technology Advice (SBSTA), UNFCCC Secretariat representatives and experts, climate ministers from Bangladesh and Barbados, and over 40 country representatives leading international climate negotiation groups.
In his opening address, Yalchin Rafiyev, COP29 Chief Negotiator and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, emphasized the COP29 Presidency’s commitment to achieving progress on all pillars of the Paris Agreement. He stressed the importance of transparent and purposeful negotiations, highlighting the adoption of the New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance as a critical test for the Paris Agreement.
Rafiyev announced that the COP29 Presidency has elevated the negotiation process to the political level to drive progress. He also introduced a “pair of ministers” from Egypt and Denmark to facilitate dialogue with Parties. The Chief Negotiator urged Parties to intensify their efforts to improve the current NCQG text and emphasized the need for constructiveness in addressing disagreements.
The retreat focused on pressing climate agenda issues, including the NCQG, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, adaptation, and mitigation. Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, expressed gratitude to participants for their support and solidarity.
Guest speakers, including Harry Vreuls, SBSTA Chair, and ministers from Bangladesh and Barbados, acknowledged the usefulness of the informal Shamakhi negotiations and appreciated the COP29 Presidency’s transparent and impartial mediation. They emphasized the need for increased efforts to drive progress in the negotiations.
