Mukhtar Babayev was appointed Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on climate issues on 5th February 2025. Mr Babayev is the official envoy appointed by the President of Azerbaijan to address matters relating to climate change and environmental challenges.
Mukhtar Babayev was previously appointed COP29 President-Designate on 4 January 2024. He has served as Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources since 2018.
Mr. Babayev began his career working for the State Committee for Economy and Planning and for the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations. He joined the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) in 1994 and served in a variety of roles there until 2018, including as Vice President of Ecology from 2007 to 2010, in which he led efforts to limit the company’s environmental impact.
In 2010, Mr. Babayev was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.
He holds a degree in political science from the University of Moscow’s School of Philosophy, a degree in foreign economic relations from the University of Azerbaijan, and a degree in world economy from the pan-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade.