“I think COP29 was for many people a very happy surprise. It was a surprise because, of course, Azerbaijan stepped in at short notice to host the COP. But it was also a surprise in seeing the ambition that Azerbaijan brought the COP to Baku. And I think it set us a very clear bedrock from which to move on now to Belem. The international community is looking to build on what happened in Baku, and to make sure that at COP30, we have a major international success,” Barry Gardiner, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom, said in an exclusive interview with AZERTAC.

The British MP hailed the key outcomes of COP29 and Azerbaijan’s climate initiatives. He also commended the excellent organization of the COP by Azerbaijan. "Well, look it was remarkably well done. It was it was choreographed very, very well. But in terms of the way in which the logistics were handled, getting members of parliament and delegates to the COP itself, to the venue and all that happened around that was successful. It was very efficient,” he noted.

Touching upon the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UK in green energy, the British MP said: “I think we are one of the largest external investors in Azerbaijan. I want that to continue. And I think if you look at the way in which the UK, of course, is leading the world in terms of offshore wind. These are ways in which we can cooperate. I know that Azerbaijan is looking to have a green corridor pipeline that can export its sustainable energy through to Europe, and I think that's really a very positive way. We're seeing this now with the green energy corridors that are being established. And it's a way in which the UK and Azerbaijan can partner a lot in the future.”

Ayten Abbasli

Special correspondent