The Muslim Council of Elders, under the leadership of His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev, and the COP29 Presidency for the remarkable success in hosting the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 12 to 22.

The Council commends the outstanding efforts by Azerbaijan’s leadership and its people in ensuring the success of this conference. It notes that COP29 marked a significant breakthrough with its outcomes that bolstered climate finance for developing nations, activated carbon markets, and highlighted the critical role of youth leadership in climate initiatives. These achievements are seen as pivotal steps towards achieving environmental equilibrium and advancing climate justice.

The Muslim Council of Elders organized the Faith Pavilion at the COP29 conference, which over two weeks hosted more than 54 dialogues and discussions featuring over 230 speakers from diverse backgrounds. This global alliance included 97 organizations representing 11 religions and denominations from around the world, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, the United Nations Environment Programme, the COP29 Presidency, the Caucasus Muslims’ Board, the Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan. The Pavilion's activities saw significant momentum, diverse participation, and widespread acclaim from COP29 attendees for its pivotal role in highlighting the critical contributions of religious leaders to global climate efforts, serving as an inspiring model of cooperation among different faiths in addressing shared environmental challenges.

The Muslim Council of Elders reaffirms its commitment to enhancing the partnership between religious leaders and uniting their efforts to address global challenges. It aims to mobilize ethical and spiritual voices to tackle the climate crisis at future COP conferences, promoting an inclusive approach that fosters dialogue and collective action. This strategy is intended to shape policies that support the transition to environmental sustainability and achieve climate justice, considering the needs of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.