This press release, prepared by FEE’s National Member in Azerbaijan, Ekosfera, shares highlights from the “COP29 Simulation for Children” Ecological Forum held in October 2024. The event, a preparation for the UNFCCC COP29 in November 2024, showcased Azerbaijan’s commitment to youth-led climate action.
On October 30, 2024, the "COP29 Simulation - For Children" Ecological Forum was held on the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Education, organized by the "EkoSfera" Social-Ecology Center Public Union and the Republican Children and Youth Development Center.
In connection with the declaration of this year as the "Year of Solidarity for a Green World" and the prestigious event COP29 to be held in our country, the Ecological Forum aims to contribute to the preparatory process of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, encourage the active participation of young people in the fight against climate change, and at the same time, to form ecological awareness in children and youth, increase their knowledge and skills in environmental protection and combating climate change.
The event provided an opportunity to get acquainted with the topics discussed at COP29 and the decision-making processes, to act as representatives of different countries and develop strategies to combat climate change. This experience also serves to develop participants' diplomatic skills, critical thinking, and teamwork abilities.
In the official opening of the Forum, Deputy Minister of Science and Education Firudin Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rauf Hajiyev, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva, and COP29 Azerbaijan Youth Climate Champion Leyla Hasanova emphasized in their speeches that holding COP29 in our country is the most important event of 2024 for Azerbaijan and a continuation of the country's strategy for transitioning to a green economy. They highlighted its significance in strengthening diplomatic relations and trade cooperation, promoting the exchange of experience and transfer of advanced technologies in the fields of clean energy, energy saving, sustainable transport, and other economic sectors, and increasing international attention to our ecosystem. Accordingly, they stressed the importance of organizing events like the ecological forum to increase the awareness of students in this direction.
Olivia Copsey, Education Director of the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) Eco-Schools Program, addressed a video message to the young eco-leaders of Azerbaijan at the forum. In her address, she emphasized the importance of the role of youth in the fight against climate change and noted the importance of a sustainable and environmentally responsible lifestyle. It should be noted that EkoSfera, as the first and only member of FEE in Azerbaijan, plays an important role in the development of environmental education and eco-leadership in the country.
The event was attended by UNICEF Deputy Representative in Azerbaijan Ana Dautovic, UNICEF Azerbaijan Education Program Manager Leyla Hasanova, Alessandra Rokkasalvo from the UNDP Azerbaijan Office, FAO Partnership and Liaison Office Deputy Head Bariz Mehdiyev, UNDP Azerbaijan Project Manager Zaur Aliyev, Nargis Publishing House, WWF Azerbaijan, members of the Public Council under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and members of the COP29 Organizing Committee.
As a continuation of the event, parallel sessions, interactive seminars, and working groups were organized for the Forum participants at venues such as the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Aarhus Public Environmental Information Center, Tusi-Bohm Planetarium, COP29 Information Center, Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Baku Zoological Park, and Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex. More than 300 eco-club members operating within the framework of the "Green Network" environmental awareness program participated in the Forum.
At the end of the official part, with the participation of the member of the COP29 Organizing Committee, the head of the EkoSfera Social-Ecological Center Public Union, the director of the Republican Children and Youth Development Center Firuza Sultan-zade and eco-club members, the Declaration of the Ecological Forum was adopted, and the participants were informed about future plans.
