In a historical joint effort to enhance cooperation and foster inclusivity, the COP29 Presidency and OPEC today held a High-Level Dialogue at the OPEC headquarters in Vienna, ahead of the climate change conference COP29 which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November 2024.

The Dialogue - which was co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and COP29 President-Designate and H.E. Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General – brought together high-ranking officials from OPEC and non-OPEC countries participating in the Charter of Cooperation (CoC) and provided a unique opportunity for both sides to engage in a constructive and inclusive dialogue.

In his welcoming remarks, H.E. Al Ghais showed OPEC’s full support to Azerbaijan in order to ensure a successful outcome at COP29 in Baku. Furthermore, H.E. Al Ghais stated that “at OPEC, we believe there is ‘no one-size-fits-all’ solution to the climate challenge and moving forward, diverse pathways are needed”.

H.E. Al Ghais highlighted the telling significance that three successive COPs take place in countries participating in CoC, namely COP28 in Dubai-UAE, COP29 in Baku-Azerbaijan, and COP30 in Belém-Brazil. “This is an indication that oil producers and the industry must be part of the solutions to the climate challenge”, H.E. the Secretary General added.

During the dialogue, H.E. Mr. Babayev, COP29 President-Designate said that “Azerbaijan, like other countries rich in natural resources, should be at the forefront of addressing climate change. I am grateful for OPEC’s support for the COP29 Presidency’s plan to enhance ambition and enable action and for the opportunity to include all parties as we build fair and shared solutions. Success will require action from everyone, so we are intensifying our political engagements as we seek to go further and faster to invest today to save tomorrow.”

Following a productive exchange of views, both sides:

  - Agreed to cooperate with the aim of achieving successful ambitions and comprehensive outcomes at COP29.

  - Emphasized the importance of enhancing international cooperation in climate action to advance the objectives, principles, and goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and its Paris Agreement, allowing each country to chart its own path based on its national circumstances and approaches through a variety of measures that they can contribute to.

  - Share common concerns and aspirations regarding ambitious yet balanced and inclusive climate action that takes into account the principles of equity, and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of national circumstances.

  - Outlined commitment to advance all viable solutions and technologies that will enable all nations to contribute to global climate action, in a nationally determined manner, while taking into consideration the different national circumstances, pathways, and approaches of each country.

  - Emphasized that COP29 presents an opportunity to underscore the imperative of economic diversification in a manner that aligns with the needs, priorities, and resources of all nations, particularly in the context of promoting sustainable development and poverty eradication and ensuring

About OPEC

In accordance with its Statute, the mission of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.energy security.