Visit to Baku

One of Smart solution TM's activities is to research and implement technologies for adapting soil cultivation systems to climate change. In the context of the transformation of the moisture redistribution mechanism, solutions to improve soil moisture retention, especially in the rhizosphere, improve the availability of ultra-, micro- and macroelements, increase their water solubility and increase their plant uptake, and can mitigate risks, especially in arid regions with insufficient water and uneven precipitation. The countries of the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa can be indicative of the application of such technologies.

For Azerbaijan, for example, the problem of water availability is a key one. In addition to the region's traditional hydrometeorological features, the general conditions are affected by climate change and its consequences.

CEO Leonid Bytsyura visited Baku to discuss the prospects for cooperation with scientists and practitioners from Ukraine, Germany, Belgium and Spain. At the Azerbaijan State University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, a meeting was held with the leadership of the Faculty of Water Management and Engineering Communication Systems and representatives of the Department of Ecology to discuss the current realities of water use in countries experiencing climate change.

Autumn 2024 is a special year for Baku, as it is the venue for the biggest event of the year - COP29. From 11 to 22 November 2024, Azerbaijan will host the global climate summit with the participation of more than a hundred state delegations.

Therefore, the delegation took part in a review meeting at the COP29 Information Centre. Among other things, the meeting focused on the use of renewable energy sources, modernisation of environmental policy, and international cooperation.

The COP, which stands for Conference of the Parties, is a series of formal meetings of the Conference of the Parties where governments assess global efforts to advance the Paris Agreement and the Convention and limit global warming to 1.5°C in line with the latest scientific evidence. At the COPs, world leaders come together to assess progress and discuss the best ways to tackle climate change. Water, climate and energy are considered at the summit as a complex global challenge.

The Convention now has 198 Parties (197 countries plus the European Union), which is almost universal membership. The Republic of Azerbaijan hosted the COP29 session at the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. The session was attended by the WTO Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Trade Centre and the International Chamber of Commerce. The session, which was organised within the framework of the WTO Public Forum on 13 September 2024, provided an update on COP29, which is to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan,

Azerbaijan is committed to developing its renewable energy potential, which is an important part of the country's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050. The country intends to increase its renewable energy capacity to 30% by 2030 and diversify its existing energy system to become a green energy leader. Azerbaijan is committed to leading by example and will update its national targets in its next Nationally Determined Contribution 1.5.

Water policy, modernisation of approaches to water use, in particular in the agricultural sector, are key objectives of the global summit. The dependence of water resources on climate change is becoming a crucial condition for human existence and development. Modernisation of the water sector, radical change of attitude to the main natural resource, dissemination of successful practices in water treatment, water supply and sewerage, along with transformation of approaches to water use in the agricultural, industrial and municipal sectors, should become a central element of global policy in the 21st century. New technologies for increasing water solubility and availability of ultra-, micro-, and macroelements can be a lifeline for a number of economic sectors in Azerbaijan.