Excellencies, colleagues and friends.
We are here in beautiful Baku to mark World Environment Day 2026, which this year issues a global call for climate action.
Azerbaijan continues to play an important role in global climate action, hosting the COP29 climate talks here in 2024 and guiding the world to an agreement on mobilizing US$300 billion in climate finance by 2035. Last month, Baku hosted the World Urban Forum, which placed a focus on the need for climate resilience in cities. And now Azerbaijan is helping UNEP to focus minds and actions on climate change on this, the 54th global observance of World Environment Day. My deep thanks.
Excellencies,
Climate change is indeed an issue that should be at the forefront of all our minds.
Global temperatures are rising and climate impacts are intensifying. The planet is sending us signals. Heatwaves. Droughts. Floods. Desertification and dust and sandstorms. These impacts harm us all, with the poorest and most vulnerable suffering the worst. Azerbaijan is facing many climate challenges, from the degradation of mountain ecosystems to the decline of water levels in the Caspian Sea, which threatens ports, fisheries, infrastructure and coastal communities.
But this need not be a story of disaster and despair. The future is not yet written. We can craft our own story by acting to slow and adapt to climate change delivering safer, healthier, more prosperous and more equitable societies.
Climate action is a huge opportunity for the nations and peoples of the world. If we act now, as a global community, we can prevent millions of deaths and trillions in economic losses by 2050. We can drive growth, jobs, resilience and investment. We can all thrive.
The solutions are not theoretical. They are real. They are here. They are scaling fast. And they offer a host of benefits.
Clean energy and electric mobility are rapidly expanding, promising greater energy security and energy independence for nations. Renewables surpassed coal as worlds largest electricity source in 2025. The clean energy juggernaut will stop for nobody. But we still need to be smarter and more flexible about when we use electricity to minimize emissions and prevent grid overload.
Cities are leading on climate solutions. From tackling extreme heat with sustainable cooling and heat resilient buildings, to urban nature and climate-smart design, local governments are climate-proofing urban spaces. Strategically combining multiple passive cooling measures can reduce indoor temperatures up to 8C.
At the start of the week, more than 50 cities around the world joined UNEPs new 50@50 activation to share tested approaches to extreme heat adaptation and preparedness. We invite all cities to join 50@50 to help protect people, reduce inequality and strengthen urban resilience.
The world is also uniting to cut methane, and other super pollutants, which can bring fast wins for climate and clean air. I commend Azerbaijans leadership from the Regional Organic Waste Declaration, now being implemented through an acceleration plan, to action in the oil and gas sector. This includes the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijans engagement with UNEPs Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 to tackle leaks, venting and flaring in its operations.
Actions are growing to reduce food loss and waste, a major cause of emissions, boosting food security and saving money. Sustainable buildings are lowering energy use and supporting resilient growth.
And momentum is growing to back nature the planets original climate solution. Backing nature is crucial. Because healthy ecosystems absorb carbon, regulate water and protect communities. Because ecosystem restoration creates jobs, strengthens economies and helps vulnerable communities adapt. Because protecting forests could help to avoid tens of billions of dollars in disaster losses every year. Because nature improves air quality, urban resilience and human health both mental and physical. And because nature also plays a vital role in reducing extreme heat and enabling equitable access to sustainable cooling.
Excellencies,
Global political momentum is growing for climate action. Just last month, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution backing the International Court of Justices ruling that nations have a legal obligation to protect people and planet from greenhouse gas emissions.
But we have much work to do. Global temperature rise is very likely to soon exceed the 1.5C limit set out in the Paris Agreement. So, we must strive even harder to return to this level by the end of the century, while protecting communities and nations particularly Small Island Developing States from the stronger, more-frequent impacts that are coming.
This means transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just orderly and equitable manner. This means investing in and deploying every available solution urgently, at scale. This means financing strong and meaningful adaptation, early warning and disaster preparedness measures. And more.
Excellencies,
We know that multilateral action on climate change can make a difference. At the time of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, in 2015, global temperatures were predicted to rise by up to 3.5C by the end of the century. We are now looking at 2.3-2.5C, if policies are put in place to meet all climate pledges. So let us get these policies in place, start implementing them and push harder to attain net-zero emissions and lower temperatures further.
We can prevail in this fight for the planets future. But it will take all of us: from the wealthiest nations and individuals, who hold the biggest responsibility for the climate crisis and so can make the biggest difference, to grassroots climate activists and ordinary people.
World Environment Day is not just sending a message; it is passing one on. The planet has, for years, been sending signals that its limits are approaching.
Today, on World Environment Day, thousands of climate-focused events are happening around the world and millions of people are making their voices heard online, calling for climate action. Azerbaijan is showing the importance of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
They are heeding the message. We must all do the same, and act on climate change as though our lives depend on it. Because they do.
