ECO Summit in Azerbaijan’s Khankendi Highlights Urgent Climate Measures by Member States

The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), currently underway in Azerbaijan's Khankendi, has placed climate change at the forefront of its agenda.

The summit has gathered leaders and high-level delegates from ECO member states to deliberate on key regional priorities, with climate policy and sustainability emerging as central issues in the discussions, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyzstan’s Kabar news agency.

The heads of state and government from ECO member states, including Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Türkiye, and Turkmenistan are participating in the event.

Participants are discussing pressing issues on the organization's agenda, with a strong focus on the measures being taken by member states to combat climate change.

In an interview with Kabar News Agency, Kyrgyz economic expert and Doctor of Economic Sciences Gulnaz Supaeva emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing environmental challenges.

“The successful implementation of joint projects is a vital condition for achieving climate goals,” Supaeva noted.

She emphasized that placing climate change on the summit agenda and considering proposals from member countries is a highly significant step toward regional cooperation and sustainable development.

“In recent years, ECO member states have placed increasing emphasis on regional development through collaborative efforts. They are taking steps not only to strengthen economic ties, but also to implement a number of projects in sectors such as energy, transportation, and agriculture,” the expert said.

“At the current summit, particular attention is being given to energy cooperation. Specifically, there is a strong focus on the development of renewable energy with an emphasis on environmental sustainability, as well as ensuring energy security across the region. These efforts, in turn, contribute to enhancing climate stability,” Supaeva noted.

The expert said that Kyrgyzstan is actively promoting climate-related initiatives on the international stage and prioritizing their implementation:

“Several of Kyrgyzstan’s initiatives aimed at protecting mountain ecosystems have received strong support from the international community. Our country continues to emphasize the urgency of addressing glacier melt as one of the most serious consequences of climate change and consistently raises the issue of support for mountainous states. In addition, Kyrgyzstan is highlighting the importance of leveraging experience in developing a green economy and maximizing the use of renewable energy potential,” she added.