His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, has arrived in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to participate in the opening of the 29th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29). This participation follows an official invitation extended to His Eminence by President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan during their meeting at Al-Azhar in Cairo in June of this year.

The Grand Imam is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech addressing Islam’s perspective on environmental conservation and the climate change crisis. His speech will explore how the voice of religion can be utilized to strengthen the role of religious leaders in raising awareness of this critical issue and finding solutions to this serious threat to life on Earth.

During his visit, the Grand Imam is also expected to meet with various officials, religious leaders, intellectuals, and cultural figures, aiming to unify perspectives and foster collaborative efforts to address global challenges, with a particular focus on climate issues and the ongoing conflicts affecting our world.

Last year, the Grand Imam, along with other prominent religious figures, co-signed the "Call of Conscience: Abu Dhabi Joint Statement for Climate" prior to COP28 in the United Arab Emirates. He also participated virtually alongside His Holiness Pope Francis in launching the inaugural Faith Pavilion, which was organized by the Muslim Council of Elders.