Baku Climate Action Week 2025: Global Voices Sets Stage for COP30

• 46 events and sessions across more than 8 venues in Baku, spanning 30+ themes
• Participation from 25+ countries, including government representatives, parliamentarians, scientists, business leaders, women leaders, youth climate champions, and multilateral organisations
• From Rio to Baku to Belém: this week strengthened Azerbaijan’s legacy as COP29 host, bolstering its role in shaping global climate ambition even beyond COP30

Baku, 3 October 2025 – The second edition of Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), organised in partnership with London Climate Action Week, concluded today after an intensive one-week programme engaging up to 3000 people. The event once again positioned Azerbaijan at the heart of the global climate conversation. Over the course of 46 events and sessions held across more than 8 venues in the capital, and covering over 30 themes, the week brought together government officilas, former prime ministers and presidents, parliamentarians, scientists, business leaders, women leaders, youth movements, climate champions, and international organisations from the United Nations, Nizami Ganjavi International Centre and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to SEBRAE (Brazil), to forge dialogue and accelerate momentum towards COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Global Participation and Themes

Speakers and participants represented over 25 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, underscoring the international scope of the week. The breadth of topics reflected the complexity of the climate challenge:

Climate finance and accountability, exploring mechanisms to mobilise resources for just transitions.

Energy transition and mobility, with a focus on renewables, innovation, and city-level solutions.

Adaptation and resilience, sharing cross-regional experiences in facing climate risks.

Food systems and circular economy, highlighting pathways for sustainable consumption and production.

Gender and leadership, focused on empowering women to take leadership roles in climate policy and action.

Throughout, BCAW emphasised the central role of science, business, and parliamentary leadership in turning ambition into action.

Notable Highlights

BCAW 2025 took place on the heels of Rio Climate Action Week and ahead of COP30, showing how the road from Rio to Baku to Belém is shaping global ambition. For Azerbaijan, which will hand over the COP presidency to Brazil next month, the week was not only about convening dialogue but also about bolstering its climate legacy. The international focus and broad participation underscored that Baku’s role will resonate well beyond Belém.

The week was anchored by the daily involvement of Mr Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President and Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Climate, whose opening address on Monday, 29 September, at the Marriott Boulevard Hotel officially launched the Week. His constant presence and dedication throughout BCAW underscored Azerbaijan’s leadership and commitment to ensuring the climate agenda remains at the forefront of international collaboration.

Equally central to the week’s success was the constant engagement of Ms Nigar Arpadarai, Azerbaijan’s COP29 High-Level Climate Champion, whose daily addresses and presence were the driving force behind the conversations. As climate champion, her tireless leadership kept momentum alive across sessions and ensured diverse perspectives were heard and amplified.

Brazil’s direct participation was another highlight of BCAW 2025. Mr Manuel Montenegro, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Azerbaijan, addressed Session 2: Advancing Climate Resilience through International Collaboration, where he underscored Brazil’s commitments on decarbonisation, adaptation, and resilience across sectors. His intervention marked a critical bridge in the road from Baku to Belém, reinforcing continuity between presidencies and spotlighting Brazil’s upcoming leadership of COP30.

The programme also featured a strong presence of women leaders, underlining the importance of inclusive leadership in driving climate ambition. Youth leaders and climate champions, including Ms. Leyla Hasanova, COP29 Presidency Youth Climate Champion, were at the forefront. Ms Hasanova led the Youth-Led Climate Forum, convening young people from across the world and fostering leadership for tomorrow.
Building Bridges to COP30
International parliamentarians and experts joined scientists, businesses, and youth representatives to exchange lessons and craft joint priorities, ensuring that outcomes from BCAW feed directly into COP30 preparations.

The Finance and Just Transition Forum and Parliamentary Climate Dialogues stood out as spaces where international collaboration was visibly strengthened.

Closing Day: Youth and “Walk the Talk”

The final day of BCAW 2025 embodied the spirit of the week with two flagship events: “Youth Voices for Climate”, spotlighting next-generation leadership, and “Walk the Talk”, which transformed commitments into concrete actions. These sessions captured the essence of Baku’s contribution to the global journey – that words must translate into action, and how today’s youth are indispensable in that transition.

Baku Climate Action Week 2025 concludes with a clear message: climate action must be global, inclusive, and urgent – and the road from Baku to Belém must be paved with courage, collaboration, and justice.

Grateful thanks are extended to BCAW sponsors and partners: SOCAR Green, Kristal Absheron, Nizami Ganzavi International Centre, Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organisation (NAMYO), Rotas Consulting, RIIB and AnewZ.