The United Nations (UN)

Cooperation between the UN and Azerbaijan

The Charter of the UN (United Nations) was signed on 26 June 1945 by representatives of 50 states at the San-Francisco Conference and entered into force on 24 October 1945. Currently, the United Nations has 193 member states worldwide.

The Republic of Azerbaijan was admitted to the United Nations on 2 March 1992, and at the same year, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations commenced its activities.

The Republic of Azerbaijan joined the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), consisting of 17 goals adopted for the period 2016-2030, at the Sustainable Development Summit held on 25-27 September 2015 with the participation of UN member states.

The National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development has been established in order to coordinate the implementation of the duties of state bodies in connection with the obligations arising from these goals, and a mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the achievement of the SDGs at the national level has been determined.

Goal 7 adopted within the framework of the SDGs is titled Affordable and Clean Energy. Access to energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, international cooperation in the energy sector, and investments in energy infrastructure constitute the core components of Goal 7.

Up to date, to present progress on the implementation of the SDGs to the international community and to exchange best practices, Azerbaijan has submitted its Voluntary National Reviews four times (in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2024).

On 24 October 2025, the UN-Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2026–2030) was signed. The Framework Document incorporates two strategic priorities aimed at accelerating sustainable development:

ü Priority 1: Strengthening inclusive socio-economic growth and human development

ü Priority 2: Promoting ecosystems and climate resilience, green growth, and a just transition

Relevant activities are being carried out in connection with the implementation of the Framework Document on Cooperation for Sustainable Development between the United Nations and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Clean Energy Center

The Clean Energy Center, as a specialized institution of the ECO, is also a part of UNIDO’s Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centers (GN-SEC).

- The Charter of the Clean Energy Center was adopted at the 25th Meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, held on 27 November 2021 in Ashgabat, and Azerbaijan was selected as the host country of the Center.

- Hosting the Clean Energy Center in Azerbaijan will not only create additional opportunities for national and regional green energy projects implemented in the country, but will also contribute to strengthening Azerbaijan’s role in regional energy processes, including energy connectivity with Central Asia. The Charter of the Clean Energy Center has been signed by Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan.

- On 9 September 2025, Aysel Yagubova was appointed as the Executive Director of the Clean Energy Center, and the Center has commenced its operations.

Cooperation with UNECE

The UNECE was established in 1947.

Azerbaijan has been a member of the Commission since July 30, 1993. The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan cooperates with one of the UNECE sectoral committees, Committee on Sustainable Energy.

One of the Deputy Chairmen of the UNECE Sustainable Energy Committee is Rena Humbatova, Deputy Head of the AREA under the Ministry of Energy.

In order to carry out the activities of the UNECE`s Committee on Sustainable Energy, six expert groups and one center have been established in the Committee.

- Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency (GEEE)

-  Group of Experts on Renewable Energy (GERE)

- Expert Group on Resource Management (EGRM)

- Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane (CMM)

- Group of Experts on Cleaner Electricity Systems (CES) from fossil fuels

- Group of Experts on Gas (GEG)

-  Gas Center

The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan regularly participates in meetings of the Committee on Sustainable Energy and its expert groups, as well as in other events organized by UNECE.

SPECA program

The United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) is a mutual event between Central Asian countries that experience transition period and the UN. Objectives and directions of the Programme was mentioned in Tashkent Declaration, signed on 26 March 1998. Participants of the program are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The activities of SPECA are supported by the UN regional commissions (UNECE and UNESCAP).

The meeting of the Governing Council of SPECA and the SPECA Economic Forum are organized by the respective chairman country.

On 28-29 November 2002, Azerbaijan became a member of the program at the 4th session of the Regional Advisory Committee held in Bishkek. In 2006, the 1st Meeting of the Program Management Council and the Business Forum were held in Baku.

Azerbaijan held the chairmanship of SPECA in 2016 and 2023. The SPECA Economic Forum and the 11th session of the Governing Council were held in the city of Ganja on 22–23 November 2016, while SPECA Week took place in Baku on 20–24 November 2023.

The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan regularly participates in the meetings of the SPECA Working Group on Water, Energy, and Environment.

Cooperation with UNESCAP

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP)

One of the 8 currently operating sectoral committees of UNESCAP is the Energy Committee. In order to carry out the activities of the UNESCAP Energy Committee, 2 groups of experts were established within the committee:

- Group of Experts on Energy Connectivity

- Expert Group on universal access to modern energy services, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and cleaner use of fossil fuels

Azerbaijan has been a member of UNESCAP since 31 July 1992.

With the support of UNESCAP, the Roadmap for the Energy Sector of Azerbaijan has been developed to advance progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Access to Affordable and Clean Energy).

The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan regularly participates in events organized by the UNESCAP Committee on Energy.

Cooperation in combating climate change

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in 1992.

Azerbaijan joined to the Convention in 1995 and to the Kyoto Protocol in 2000.

Within the framework of COP21, held in Paris on 12 December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted by 55 countries with the aim of regulating greenhouse gas emissions from 2020 onwards, following the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol.

On 22 April 2016, during the signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Republic of Azerbaijan joined the agreement.

During COP26, held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021, Azerbaijan undertook a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2050.

COP29

From 11 to 22 November 2024, Baku, the capital city of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted COP29.

Three of the initiatives included in the COP29 Action Agenda covered the energy sector:

- COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge (supported by 75 countries)

- COP29 Green Energy Pledge: Green Energy Zones and Corridors (supported by 65 countries)

- COP29 Hydrogen Declaration (supported by 70 countries)

Within the framework of COP29, the Ministry of Energy organized 22 events (forums, roundtables, panels, dialogues, seminars, presentations, signing ceremonies, etc.).

Within COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025, Azerbaijan’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) was announced. According to the new NDC document, Azerbaijan has brought forward its emissions reduction target timeline by 15 years and committed to reducing emissions by 40 percent by 2035.

During COP30, in negotiations conducted with the participation of Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency, it was decided that Türkiye would host COP31, while Australia would serve as the President of the COP31 negotiations.