As part of COP29, a High-Level Session titled “The Power of Collaboration: Joint Efforts for Net Zero” was held in partnership with the World Economic Forum, the Ministry of Economy, and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency – AZPROMO. Discussions focused on mobilizing international financial resources for climate issues and expanding partnerships for sustainable development.
At the session, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, shared his thoughts on the principles of joint efforts against climate change, global policies in this field, and the contributions of the private sector. He highlighted the importance of inclusive actions to achieve sustainable development and emphasized the necessity of a fair approach to addressing climate issues globally. The session also detailed Azerbaijan's goals and initiatives in green economic growth and the development of innovative solutions to achieve green energy objectives, stressing the critical role of international collaboration.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, underscored the importance of aligning global trade policies with climate action and supporting developing countries in this context.
Uzbekistan's Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, spoke about international cooperation against global climate challenges, the regional initiatives of Central Asian countries, and the significance of joint projects in renewable energy.
Jem Hui Neo, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum and the session's moderator, emphasized that the transition to net-zero carbon emissions presents immense opportunities for economic growth and job creation. She stressed the importance of collective and inclusive approaches to ensure the fair distribution of benefits and costs.
Rich Lesser, Global Chair and CEO of Boston Consulting Group and Co-Chair of the Alliance of Climate Leaders, highlighted the company’s achievements in reducing overall emissions by 10% while increasing total revenues by 18% between 2019 and 2022. He called for stronger public-private partnerships to involve the private sector more actively in climate action, emphasizing that clear policies and robust partnership mechanisms are essential for driving positive change.
Andrew Forrest, Executive Chairman of Fortescue, stressed the importance of transitioning to green energy sources in the fight against climate change. He noted that increased investments in renewable energy and the promotion of technological innovations are vital for achieving global climate targets.
The participants collectively emphasized the need for global actions to address the climate crisis. Governments, companies, and civil society organizations were urged to embrace shared responsibility and actively contribute to combating climate change through concrete action plans.
