With a population of around 10 million people (2020), Azerbaijan’s contributes only 0.09% of total global GHG emissions, with 3.5 t CO₂e per capita (2018). Energy and agriculture are two sectors with the largest GHG emission shares, respectively 75 and 14 per cent. Azerbaijan submitted an ambitious commitment in its First Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) committing to a quantitative target of 35% reduction in the level of greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 by 2030.

The physical and geographical characteristics of Azerbaijan make it a highly sensitive country to the adverse effects of climate change. Extreme weather events, such as flooding, drought and heat stress are expected to increase in frequency. A growing water deficit, air pollution and land degradation place a high vulnerability in different sectors: agriculture, human health, water resources, forestry, tourism, coastal zone. The most vulnerable areas identified by the government are water, agriculture and coastal areas.

The Azerbaijan 2020 strategy highlights the possible impacts of climate change on the country’s society and economy, and the importance of preparing necessary policy measures. It also states that the amounts of energy and CO₂ used to produce one unit of GDP will need to be in line with the OECD indicators. There is also the Strategy of Development of Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources in 2012-2020, and a strategy for renewable energy for 2015-2030. Whilst no policy or legal document has been put in place specifically for adaptation, the First NDC stated that Azerbaijan considers developing relevant adaptation measures for decreasing or minimising potential losses caused by climate change at national, local and community levels by sector. The National Designated Authority in the Climate Change Area is the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

Climate policy development and advancing cooperation with EU in Azerbaijan 

EU4Climate key policy interventions and expected impact

Armenia is a country with an ambitious climate change agenda, which makes significant efforts towards low carbon development through increasing the share of renewable energy, promoting energy efficiency, preserving and enhancing forest covered areas and reporting regularly to the UNFCCC. However, as a developing country, Armenia needs international financial, technological and capacity building support. EU4Climate programme, funded by the European Union, aims to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies in Armenia.

Azerbaijan has already set several policies to pursue low-carbon, climate-resilient development. However, as a developing country, Azerbaijan needs further international financial, technological and capacity building support. EU4Climate programme, funded by the European Union, aims to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies in Azerbaijan. The EU4Climate project aims to supports Azerbaijan’s commitment to update and enhance the country’s NDC in 2020, to build national capacities to integrate low-emission and climate-resilient actions into national development plans as well as align climate change legislation with EU standards. A robust domestic MRV system will be established, to inform the government and the international community of the progress of its NDC implementation. The project will establish concrete industry-specific guidelines for the implementation of the Paris Agreement across various sectors of the economy, in particular agriculture and energy.

The EU4Climate project’s substantial activities started in Azerbaijan in the second half of 2019, and laid the footing for a systematic implementation of the requirements of the Paris Agreement and the commitments of Azerbaijan under it.

EU4Climate Armenia: key results achieved in 2019