Baku Communiqué

The Baku Communiqué, signed on 15th May, 2024, is a international agreement addressing the climate change challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This agreement was conceived and championed by Ali Serim, Special Envoy to COP29 for Vanuatu and Special Representative of The Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Shivshankar Nair GCEG, OV, Ambassador for Climate Change, Oceans, and Special Envoy to The Commonwealth and UNESCO for Tuvalu. The original idea behind the communiqué came from Serim and Nair.

Their efforts culminated in a meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, where key stakeholders from Azerbaijan, Tuvalu, Tonga, and The Bahamas endorsed the communiqué. Foreign Minister Frederick A. Mitchell of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas officially thanked Ali Serim and Shivshankar Nair on behalf of the Government and People of The Bahamas for their work in facilitating this meeting.

Upon the invitation of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Tuvalu, represented by the Governor General, Rev Sir Tofinga Vaevalu Falani, GCMG, MBE, the Kingdom of Tonga represented by the Prime Minister, Siaosi Ofa Ki Vahafolau Sovaleni, and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Frederick A. Mitchell, convened in Baku, Azerbaijan, to deliberate and agree on key priorities for COP29.<ref>{{cite web |title=Governor-General of Tuvalu, Prime Minister of Tonga, Foreign Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas adopt Baku Communiqué |url=https://azertag.az/en/xeber/governor_general_of_tuvalu_prime_minister_of_tonga_foreign_minister_of_the_commonwealth_of_the_bahamas_adopt_baku_communique-3004398 |website=AZERTAC |date

Context

Full text accepted within the Communiqué as follows:

• Welcoming Azerbaijan’s particular attention, as the COP29 Presidency, to the unique challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and in this regard expressing deep appreciation to H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, for the invitation extended.
• Expressing concern over the adverse impacts of climate change, which affect livelihoods, security, and well-being of people and ecosystems, and impede progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and objectives of the Convention and the Paris Agreement.
• Recognizing that SIDS are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, notably rising sea levels and coastal extremes, which threaten their cultural heritage and existence.
• Acknowledging the unprecedented temperature increases as reported by the latest assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which demand urgent action.
• Standing united in our determination to see COP29 as a milestone platform to enable effective climate actions for all parties, and commending Azerbaijan’s continued engagement with SIDS in the run-up to COP29.
• Emphasizing the importance of strengthening peace, relief, and recovery aimed at increased climate resilience, and welcoming an inclusive approach by the COP29 Presidency on these matters.
• Welcoming Azerbaijan’s COP29 commitment on climate finance to ensure that it is readily available and accessible to enhance climate resilience, with particular attention given to the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund and the finalization of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on finance.
• Agreeing to take mitigation actions and emphasize the importance of a just and equitable transition to clean energy to keep 1.5°C within reach, recognizing the critical role of other means of implementation.
• Expressing support to Azerbaijan in its endeavor to make COP29 an inclusive, transparent, and neutral platform of unity and ensure successful outcomes for all in this critical decade of global climate action.