When Azerbaijan was chosen to host COP29, few expected Baku to leave a lasting mark on global climate politics. Critics called it a "temporary stop" before the real decisions in Brazil. Yet a year later, the conversation has shifted. COP29 in Baku not only delivered concrete outcomes, from launching the Loss and Damage Fund to shaping a global finance roadmap, but also elevated Azerbaijan’s credibility as a climate leader.

Now, as COP30 opens in Belém, the contrast could not be clearer: where Baku offered structure, ambition, and progress, Belém faces the challenge of living up to that legacy.

COP29 proved to be a pivotal moment for international climate diplomacy. It was in Baku that the Loss and Damage Fund officially began operational activities, finally turning years of negotiations into a working mechanism to support vulnerable nations already facing climate impacts.

Equally significant was the agreement on a new climate finance framework, with countries aligning behind the "Baku to Belém Roadmap", an ambitious plan to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for developing nations. Azerbaijan’s presidency also steered consensus on enhancing transparency in national commitments, streamlining funding access for small and medium economies, and ensuring inclusivity in negotiations, particularly through the participation of youth, women, and civil society.

Beyond these institutional achievements, COP29 stood out for its scale and engagement. It drew over 80,000 participants, including dozens of heads of state, government representatives, global organizations, and business leaders. The event became a symbol of how smaller host nations can deliver not only organizational excellence but also substantive results that move global climate policy forward.

Baku’s unexpected........

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