The National NGO Forum in Azerbaijan initiated an international conference on South-South cooperation for non-governmental organizations from non-Aligned Movement countries at the conclusion of COP29.

The international conference "Enhancing Climate Action through South-South Cooperation: The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations," according to the Azerbaijani agency "AzerTag," emphasized that during its four-year presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan made significant contributions to promoting solidarity among countries, including climate action.

At the conclusion of the conference, the non-governmental organizations representing the Non-Aligned Movement countries agreed on a joint declaration text regarding the role of non-governmental organizations in promoting climate action through South-South cooperation.

The launch of a document signed by all the non-governmental organizations participating in the twenty-ninth Conference of the Parties has taken place.

The agency states that this document, which came as part of the conclusion of the 29th Climate Conference, expresses strong support for Azerbaijan, highlights its global role, and commends the country's call for a "COP truce" within the framework of the 29th COP, aimed at halting conflicts during critical climate negotiations to promote peace and global collective action.

The document called on the world's governments to prioritize the humanitarian aspects of climate change, such as protecting vulnerable communities, social justice, and resilience in the face of environmental crises, and to align their actions with the spirit of the "COP truce" call.

It also emphasized the important role that non-governmental organizations play in enhancing resilience to climate change and addressing humanitarian challenges, advocating for inclusive policies that align with sustainable development goals, and the need to expand cooperation between governments, financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations to support climate financing and grassroots initiatives.

The document urges non-governmental organizations to enhance their role in promoting climate action through South-South cooperation, particularly in strengthening partnerships that address regional climate challenges and support community solutions.

The document also announced that the time has come to establish a platform for NGOs working on climate action in the Global South as a network for exchanging best practices and promoting sustainable development, in support of the initiative of the National NGOs Forum in Azerbaijan for cooperation in the field of climate action.

A total of 1,023 representatives from non-governmental organizations and public activists from 137 countries signed the document, which remains open to members of civil society represented at the twenty-ninth Conference of the Parties.

For the first time in the history of non-governmental organizations in Azerbaijan, civil society organizations from regions covering 71% of the world's countries expressed their support for the NGO initiative launched during COP29.