Azerbaijan and the Challenges to Global Warming

Global warming and rising sea-levels is a serious threat to many Island states such as Maldives that will quickly disappear from the face of earth, with the current level of emissions. The average temperature of the earth's surface has risen by 0.6 degrees C since the late 1800s. It is expected to increase by another 1.4 to 5.8 degrees C by the year 2100. The 1990s appear to have been the warmest decade of the last Millennium, and 1998 the warmest year. Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty -- the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -- to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. As a follow-up, a number of nations have approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures.

The entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) provides Azerbaijan with new opportunities for reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases, mobilizing resources for environmentally-friendly technologies and achieving other sustainable development objectives.

Azerbaijan is a country with serious environmental challenges, from endangered species to industrial pollution to basic issues of water supply and safety. As a post-Soviet country, public awareness about issues such as environmental conservation and sustainable development is limited. Although the government have initiated some projects on environment but those projects have yet to create an impact on ground. There are a number of initiatives on environmental dialogue but they have failed to translate in to any concrete actions.

Azerbaijan is also one of the largest emitters of green house gases in the region. The booming oil industry and the cheap availability of hydrocarbons give an incentive to buy big cars and to generate electricity by using oil. There is a dire need to shift means of production towards renewable sources such as solar, wind, geo-thermal, and hydro and such an effort needs a firm commitment from the government.