Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA (International Dialogue for Environmental Action) Public Union, addressed the plenary session organized by the Ecumene Global Forum on November 15 during COP29.
Leyla Aliyeva spoke about the importance of COP29 in tackling global environmental issues and expressed confidence that the outcomes would contribute to strengthening international solidarity for a sustainable future.
In her address, she highlighted sustainable water management efforts in Azerbaijan, mentioning the country’s planned creation of 10 reservoirs over the coming years. Leyla Aliyeva also underscored the decline in Caspian Sea water levels and stressed the importance of protecting its biodiversity. She pointed out that the Caspian seal population has dropped more than sixfold since the early 20th century and noted the designation of Gizilaghaj National Park as the Caspian’s first marine protected area, in partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation.
Leyla Aliyeva also elaborated on IDEA’s conservation initiatives. Under the “Rich Basins” project, millions of fish fry have been released into various water bodies across Azerbaijan. The “One Drop” project has raised public awareness on the efficient use of water resources.
The session featured notable participants, including Selwin Charles Hart, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Climate Action and Just Transition, Ramón Pichs-Madruga, Director at the Centre for World Economy Studies, Erik Solheim, former Executive Director of UNEP and others.
