Azerbaijan

  • With a population of around 10 million people (2020), Azerbaijan contributes only 0.09% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with 5.7 ton CO2e per capita (2013).

    Energy and agriculture are two sectors with the largest GHG emission shares.

     

    Azerbaijan submitted an ambitious commitment in its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) committing to a quantitative target of a 35% GHG emissions’ reduction by 2030 compared to 1990.

  • 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 (1), drought (2), heat stress (3) are expected to increase in frequency.

     

  • A growing water deficit, air pollution and land degradation will increase the vulnerability in different sectors: agriculture, human health, water resources, forestry, tourism, coastal zone.

     

  • 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 CO2e used to produce one unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will need to be in line with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicators. The country also adopted 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 the EU in Azerbaijan

The European Union’s (EU) relations with Azerbaijan are based on the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in force since 1999. Azerbaijan is also part of the EU’s European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Eastern Partnership initiative, and a member of the Organisation of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and the EU in the energy field was signed in 2006. The MoU identified four priority areas for bilateral cooperation: harmonisation of legislation, enhancing the security of supply and transit systems, development of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and increased technical cooperation. In 2019, Azerbaijan joined the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P), with further EU support in the energy sector. Cooperation on the environment and climate goals has been strengthened. Also, transport dialogue and cooperation are very high on the EU and Azerbaijan agenda. Azerbaijan is moving forward on its sustainable energy pathway, with strong support from the EU, including through the EU4Energy Initiative, and from international financing institutions.

  • 2014
    • 3rd National Communication
    • National Adaptation Strategy until 2020
    • Biennial Update Report 1 (BUR1)
  • 2015
    • INDC 2016-2030
    • COP21 Paris Agreement
    • Pledge to Sustainable Developent Agenda 2030
  • 2016
    • Strategic Road Map on National
      Economic Perspectives until 2025
  • 2017
    • New EU Framework agreement
    • Ratification of Paris Agreement
  • 2018
    • EU-Azerbaijan yearly high level security
      dialogue launched
    • BUR2
  • 2019
    • EU4Climate launched
  • 2020
    • Updated NDC 2021-2030
    • Updated LEDS 2030

EU4Climate key policy interventions and expected impact

 

  • 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 by the Eastern Partnership countries. EU4Climate aims to support Azerbaijan in its commitment to update and enhance the country’s NDC, to build national capacities to integrate low-emission and climate-resilient actions into the national development plan as well as align climate change legislation with the EU standards. A robust domestic Measurement, Reporting and Verification (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.

EU4Climate result areas and timeframe in Azerbaijan

RESULT AREAS

2019

2020

2021

2022

 

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

NDC

Long-term LEDS

MRV System

EU Climate Acquis

Climate mainstreaming

Climate investment

Adaptation planning

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

Full country profile can be downloaded here.