Azərbaycan Respublikasının
BMT yanında
Daimi Nümayəndəliyi

Permanent Mission
of the Republic of Azerbaijan
to the United Nations

633 Third Avenue, Suite 3210, New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel.: (212) 371-2559; Fax: (212) 371-2784

Statement by Ms. Nigar Bayramli,

Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan

to the United Nations

at the General Debate of the Second Committee of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly under the theme “Five years to 2030-Multilateral Solutions for Sustainable Development”

7 October 2025

Chair,

At the outset, we wish to extend our sincere congratulations to you and to the other members of the Bureau on your election to lead the work of the Second Committee. We assure you of our full cooperation and support throughout this session.

The Secretary-General’s report on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals presents a sobering picture. Progress achieved over the past decade remains uneven and, in many areas, insufficient. With only five years remaining until 2030, there is a vital need to intensify our collective efforts to reverse these trends.

Yet the report also reminds us that transformation is possible when there is political will, inclusive governance, and investment in sustainable solutions. In this regard, Azerbaijan’s experience demonstrates what can be achieved despite global uncertainty and multifaceted challenges.

Guided by the principle of leaving no one behind, Azerbaijan has eradicated extreme poverty, improved access to education and healthcare, and made tangible progress in expanding renewable energy, promoting inclusive growth, and digital transformation. Our economic recovery and social investments have been achieved amid the lingering impacts of the pandemic and global inflationary pressures. These achievements reaffirm Azerbaijan’s strong national commitment to the 2030 Agenda through aligning its 2030 National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development

and the Great Return Program to the liberated territories with the SDGs.

Chair, climate change remains one of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Its impact transcends borders and affects every aspect of development, from agriculture and food security to migration and public health. The world is not yet on a trajectory compatible with the 1.5-degree goal. Multilateral cooperation in support of the countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and have significant capacity constraints, such as LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, must be among the top priorities of international action.

Last year, we had the honor to host the twenty-ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change — COP29. The negotiations in Baku took place against the backdrop of geopolitical fragmentation, growing uncertainty, and mistrust. Despite these challenges, we worked to restore confidence in multilateral climate action by ensuring that all voices, particularly those of the developing world, were heard and reflected in the final Baku Unity Pact.

The adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG), also known as the Baku Finance Goal, represents a historic milestone, tripling finance to developing countries, from the previous goal of USD 100 billion annually, to USD 300 billion annually by 2035.

Equally important, Azerbaijan facilitated the finalization of the Article 6 framework on carbon markets, making the Paris Agreement fully operational nine years after its adoption. We also ensured that the Loss and Damage Fund became fully functional, a long-awaited mechanism to support the most vulnerable communities already facing climate-induced losses. The Baku Adaptation Roadmap was adopted, and a High-Level Dialogue on Adaptation was established to accelerate the implementation of the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience.

Azerbaijan also continues to contribute to global solidarity through its humanitarian and development cooperation. We work closely with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation to advance initiatives in financial inclusion, digital transformation, climate adaptation, and agricultural innovation, including through contributions to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. The Trust Fund, launched in 2025 in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, will further provide technical support, training, and capacity-building to developing nations to strengthen public institutions and accelerate the implementation of the SDGs.

Chair, global energy and resource challenges have shown how deeply energy security is intertwined with peace, stability, and development. Azerbaijan continues to play a vital role in strengthening regional and global energy security while accelerating its green transition. Large-scale investments in solar, wind, and hydropower projects are underway, and by 2030, nearly 40 percent of our electricity will come from renewable sources. This will allow Azerbaijan to become an exporter of green electricity to European countries through the landmark trans-regional Black Sea Submarine Cable Project.

As a landlocked but highly connected country, Azerbaijan has learned to transform geographic constraints into opportunities for regional cooperation. At a time when global supply chains face disruption and protectionism is rising, we continue to invest in connectivity and resilience. Located at the crossroads of major trade and energy routes between East and West, and North and South, Azerbaijan serves as a gateway for the wider region.

In an effort to foster stronger linkages between global climate and urban agendas, while bridging global platforms such as the World Urban Forums (WUFs) and the Conferences of the Parties (COPs), Azerbaijan will host the third National Urban Forum next week in Baku and Khankendi under the theme “Towards climate-resilient and healthy cities: harnessing regional partnerships and innovative solutions”. This Forum will serve as a preparatory milestone on the road to the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), to be held in Baku in May 2026.

To conclude, Chair, strengthening the institutional foundations of the United Nations through the Secretary General’s UN80 initiative will be essential to the long-term success of both the 2030 Agenda and Pact for the Future. In the remaining five years, Azerbaijan stands ready to work closely with all partners to accelerate implementation, foster coherence between global and national efforts, and ensure that sustainable development remains a promise fulfilled—not deferred.

Thank you.