UN climate chief Simon Stiell has issued a powerful call to action, insisting that the massive new climate finance target established during Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency must be fully realized to protect global economies and lives.

The upcoming climate discussions in Baku are set to play a pivotal role in shaping global environmental policy, according to COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago.

The Earth is sending undeniable signals. From rising seas and raging wildfires to melting glaciers, the planet is making it clear that humanity is crossing the critical 1.5°C warming threshold. For decades, global climate warnings have been met with delay and denial, but a powerful counter-signal is finally emerging. Renewable energy is expanding rapidly, forests are being replanted, and cities are being redesigned for sustainability.

The world cannot abandon fossil fuels in the foreseeable future and must pursue a balanced approach that combines energy security with investment in renewable energy, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the opening of the 31st Baku Energy Forum.

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Rashad Ismayilov has met with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Musadik Masood Malik.

The Caspian Sea, long seen as a stable natural, economic and transport resource for the region, is changing rapidly. Its falling water level is no longer a topic only for scientists and environmentalists. Today, it has become an issue of national security, logistics, energy, fisheries, port infrastructure and the future of coastal cities. The problem is especially acute for Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan — two countries for which the Caspian is not just a sea, but a crucial element of economic development, international trade and geopolitical positioning.

NASA has released a major astrobiology study focused on improving future missions designed to search for evidence of life elsewhere in the solar system.

A 19-year-old street food vendor in eastern China has gained attention after reports revealed he earns around 50,000 yuan (about 9,000 dollars) a month selling fried rice while dressed in a formal suit at a night market.