On September 11-12, the international forum “Combating climate change in the global agenda of higher education” took place within the framework of cooperation between the Ministry of Science and Education and the international rating agency Times Higher Education. Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry and Sumgait State University held a forum organized by the State Agency for Science and Higher Education.
The purpose of the forum is to increase the role of higher education institutions in supporting the 13th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations (UN), to promote joint cooperation between higher education institutions and other interested parties to solve the climate crisis, and also to exchange ideas about the importance of combating climate change in scientific studies.
The Minister of Science and Education, Emin Amrullaev, who gave the opening speech at the forum, emphasized the importance of holding an international forum by our universities and increasing the competitiveness of universities in preparation for COP29.
Elnur Soltanov, Deputy Minister of Energy, Chief Executive Officer of COP29, spoke about the energy security and activities of our country during the transition to green energy, the steps that need to be taken against the global climate crisis, as well as the importance of active participation of scientific circles on topics related to climate change, at COP29.
Later, the vice-rector of the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry Vazeh Askarov and the rector of the Sumgait State University Rufat Azizov said that active participation in the fight against climate change was an invaluable contribution to the transition period of our country to green energy and that the forum united experts on sustainable development and this was a positive example.
In his speech, the general director of global issues of the international rating agency “Times Higher Education”, Phil Bati, spoke about the importance of the participation and success of Azerbaijan’s higher education institutions in The Impact rating, actively applying strategies in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN in recent years.
Director of the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, Ulkar Sattarova, who took part in the panel discussion on the topic “Country context: difficulties and opportunities in the direction of climate awareness in post-oil countries”, said that in order to achieve success in the area under consideration, it was necessary raising awareness starting from the elementary level of education and training academic staff and students in higher educational institutions speaks of the importance of active participation in this process.
The forum, which continued with panel discussions, was attended by high-ranking COP29 climate advocate Nigar Arpadarai, director of climate education at the University of Cambridge Christine Ozden, professor at the National University of Singapore Siram Ramakrishna, representative of the University of Warwick Gereth Robert, vice president of BP in Azerbaijan for the Caspian region.
The event was attended by Bakhtiyar Aslanbeyli, vice-rector of ADA University Fariz Ismailzadeh, country director of “British Council” Nargiz Hajiyeva and other official guests, heads of universities, politicians, representatives of state and non-governmental organizations. More than 200 representatives from 26 countries took part in the forum.
The Institute of Chemistry of Additives was represented by executive director, Professor Afsun Sujayev at the event.
