The COP29 Climate Change Summit has convened in Baku, Azerbaijan, where representatives from 200 countries gathered to address pressing climate challenges and bridge gaps between developed and developing nations. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General António welcomed delegates to the summit, which runs from 11 to 22 November.
Leaders from the Western Balkans voiced their commitments and concerns. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić highlighted the severity of global warming and climate change, warning of the grave threat to the world’s future.
North Macedonia’s President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, emphasized the summit’s significance as a crucial step in the global climate fight, while Croatia’s Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, called for bold, unified action, stressing that humanity’s future depends on today’s decisions.
Former Slovenian President Borut Pahor expressed unwavering commitment to responsible climate policy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Chairman of the Presidency, Denis Bećirović, outlined the country’s ambitious plan to decarbonize its energy sector by 2030, with a long-term vision extending to 2050.
Montenegro’s President, Jakov Milatović, championed the Sustainable Development Fund as a model for financing green policies and urged greater engagement in environmental measures.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, however, struck a more critical tone, questioning the efficacy of such summits. He chose not to deliver his prepared remarks, instead challenging the delegates, saying, “What are we really doing at these summits?” and criticizing the ineffectiveness of lofty intentions without tangible change.
As the summit unfolds, the Western Balkans have made it clear they stand ready for cooperative climate action, balancing calls for immediate impact with a sense of urgency for future generations.
