Climate change is becoming one of the most acute challenges of our era, which requires global, urgent action and cooperation to overcome its multifaceted consequences, - said Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze during his speech at the COP29 leaders' summit.

According to the head of the government, climate change seriously disrupts the economy of developing countries and threatens the living conditions of particularly vulnerable countries and local communities.

"Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor for me to address you on behalf of Georgia. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, as well as the President of the Conference, Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, for their warm hospitality and the exceptionally successful organization of the conference in Baku.

This event is an important landmark event, as the country of the South Caucasus region is hosting the Conference of Participants of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for the first time. I would like to wish Azerbaijan success in achieving fruitful and ambitious results in this direction, in promoting the spirit of cooperation and constructive dialogue in the process of negotiations.

This conference comes at a critical time, as climate change is emerging as one of the most pressing challenges of our age, requiring urgent global action and cooperation to address its multifaceted consequences. Unfortunately, armed conflicts along this path not only lead to serious humanitarian crises, but also hinder and slow down global efforts to combat climate change.

The increasing impacts of climate change, including rapid melting of glaciers and rising sea levels, are seriously disrupting the economies of developing countries and threatening the livelihoods of particularly vulnerable countries and local communities. Unfortunately, Georgia is not an exception and is facing severe consequences of climate change. In recent years, the awareness of the connections between human rights and ecology has significantly increased," said the Prime Minister.