On March 1, the conference “Save our green world” was held under the joint organization of the Presidium of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The President of ANAS, academician Isa Habibbayli opening the conference with an introductory speech and said that the event is being held in accordance with the Decree of the head of state declaring 2024 in the Republic of Azerbaijan the “Year of Solidarity for the Green World”. The academician noted that in connection with this Decree, an ANAS Action Plan was developed, and today’s conference is the first in a series of events that will be organized by the ANAS within the framework of the “Year of Solidarity for the Green World”.

The head of ANAS emphasized that declaring the current year in the country the “Year of Solidarity for the Green World” is a strategic step aimed at developing a “green” economy, “green” energy, “green” technologies, a “green” world in the broad sense of the word in the Republic. He having said that in the modern world, which is faced with global environmental problems, to expand the use of new, environmentally friendly energy sources, the academician added that a number of countries around the world already consider it a priority to ensure energy security and develop alternative energy sources is necessary.

Currently, throughout the world, there is a global call for the prevention of environmental problems, and Azerbaijan is among the countries that have joined the calls related to the prevention of global environmental problems continued academician Isa Habibbayli.

Academician Isa Habibbayli said that the political, economic, social and environmental aspects of the need for “green” energy are the realities of the modern world and this is one of the main issues that world science is working on. The academician noted that the international community and all countries of the world bear great responsibility in addressing issues related to climate change.

The academician called the holding this year in Azerbaijan of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29, which is one of the largest-scale events taking place in the world in connection with climate change as a historical event, adding that the unanimous consent of the countries of the world to host COP29 in Azerbaijan clearly demonstrates the authority of our Republic in the international arena and is an indicator of the strengthening of the political and economic power of our state. The head of ANAS emphasized that thanks to the successful foreign policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev. So Azerbaijan is known in the world as a strong, stable, peace-loving state, the historical Victory in the 44-day war, the restoration of territorial integrity and historical justice, ensuring sovereignty, Azerbaijan’s achievements in all spheres have received high assessment from international organizations, Ilham Aliyev will be perceived on the global political arena as an influential leader.

He emphasized that Azerbaijan hosted such international events as the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Eurovision music competition, the 1^st European Games, the 4^th Islamic Solidarity Games, a number of Baku International Humanitarian Forums, World forums on intercultural dialogue, and the Summit of Religious Leaders, meeting of ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement, etc., and academician Isa Habibbayli expressed confidence that COP29 will be held in Azerbaijan at a high level, which will make a significant contribution to the even greater growth of the country’s international image, and will also once again demonstrate to the entire civilized world , of which Azerbaijan is a part, our state’s commitment to universal human values.

The head of ANAS said that the main task of COP29 is to discuss issues related to climate change, alternative energy sources and the green world, and bring them to the attention of the world community. The academician spoke about the important tasks facing scientists in this area and encouraged them to take an active part in the scientific sessions of this prestigious event. Academician Isa Habibbayli wished success to the conference and expressed confidence that the reports that will be heard at today’s conference will be included in the COP29 program.

Then a member of the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology of the Milli Majlis (Parliament), Iltizam Yusifov, spoke, noting that 2023 was a year of historical events for our country. He recalled that, according to the relevant Decree of President Ilham Aliyev, last year was declared the “Year of Heydar Aliyev” in Azerbaijan, and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the republic were completely restored. The Milli Majlis deputy emphasized that the “Contract of the Century” signed on September 20, 1994, authored by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, turned into the “Victory of the Century” as a result of the one-day anti-terrorism events held on September 20 last year under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

He also noted that since ancient times, Azerbaijan has been known as the land of oil, Iltizam Yusifov added, and that for the first time in the world, oil began to be produced industrially at a well drilled in the Bibiheybat oilfield, and Azerbaijan is famous for its traditional sources of energy, including being considered one of "Eternal Lights" Yanardag.

Mr. Iltizam Yusifov said that after Azerbaijan gained independence, the Milli Majlis adopted more than 20 laws and regulations aimed at protecting ecology and the environment, and the republic joined more than 10 international conventions. The deputy noted that Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, liberated from occupation, as well as the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, have been declared “green” energy zones; the construction of about 50 small hydroelectric power stations is planned in the Karabakh region.

To preserve and restore Hajigabul Lake, the speaker continued, a commission has been created, which includes members of the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology of the Milli Majlis, and proposals developed in connection with the restoration of Hajigabul Lake have already been submitted to the government.

Mr. Iltizam Yusifov emphasized that Azerbaijan, which is particularly active in the fight against global climate change, is also one of the main participants in the “green transition” platform declared a priority in the world. According to him, the decision to hold COP29 in Baku is a reflection of the international assessment given to the successful activities of our country in this area. The deputy expressed confidence that our state will successfully cope with hosting this international event, and we will present Azerbaijan to the world in a new format.

Vice-President of ANAS, General Director of IMBB, academician Irada Huseynova, said in her speech that the first event within the framework of the “Year of Solidarity for the Green World” is held at the institute not by chance, since the founder of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, one of the world’s leading scientists in the field studying photosynthesis, academician Jalal Aliyev was one of the defenders of the green world and devoted his entire life to this industry.

Having said that National Leader Heydar Aliyev attached special importance to nature conservation in Azerbaijan, the academician added that as a result of the purposeful policy pursued by him since the early 1970s, important measures were implemented in the republic aimed at preserving biological resources and restoring those located on the brink of extinction of species and expansion of their distribution area.

The Vice-President of ANAS noted that after Azerbaijan gained independence, the National Leader Heydar Aliyev laid the foundations of the state policy on environmental protection and ecology, Azerbaijan joined numerous international conventions and agreements related to the environment, attention was paid to the greening of Baku and Absheron, the restoration of damaged ecological balance. At present, the speaker continued, the policy pursued by the National Leader in connection with the green world is successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev, under the leadership of the head of state, various measures are being implemented in Azerbaijan aimed at preserving the environment and biodiversity.

Recalling that 2010 was declared the “Year of Ecology” in the Republic, academician Irada Huseynova added that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s project “Let’s plant a tree for everyone!”, which is an initiative of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva to plant in one day 650 thousand trees in honor of the 650th anniversary of Imadaddin Nasimi, a number of numerous tree planting campaigns that took place throughout the country in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev - all these are examples of measures were taken in the republic to improve the environment.

Academician Irada Huseynova noted that the greatest call of our time is the restoration of lands, reserves and wildlife sanctuary, our natural resources, including forests, which for almost 30 years were subjected to environmental terror and, under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, were liberated from occupation: “The priority in the process of reconstruction of liberated territories, the Great Return, large-scale repair and restoration work is compliance with environmental requirements and protection of the environment”.

At the end of her speech, the Vice-President of ANAS emphasized that the scientific community of Azerbaijan fully supports the political course laid down by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev in all directions, including in the field of protecting our green world.

Further at the event, reports were heard from the General Director of the Institute of Botany of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Professor Sayyara Ibadullayeva on the topic “Methods of ensuring the sustainability of vegetation cover: protection of rare and endangered species”, leading researcher at the Institute of Folklore of ANAS, Doctor of Philosophy in Philology, Associate Professor Elchin Galibogly on the topic “Relationships between man and nature in the folklore of Azerbaijan”, head of the IMBB laboratory, doctor of biological sciences Yashar Feyziev on the topic “Photosynthesis and the green world”, deputy head of the Biodiversity Protection Service of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the AR Arzu Babayeva on the topic “ Protected natural areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Botany and Plant Physiology of BSU Zulfiya Mammadova on the topic "Trees and shrubs resistant to environmental stress in landscaping the territory of Azerbaijan".

In conclusion, Fatima Hajiyeva, a 9th grade student at the Lyceum named after academician Zarifa Aliyeva, recited a poesy dedicated to nature.