Road safety, youth, and COP29 in Azerbaijan
This year, the United Nations’ World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR) falls within the same timeframe as COP29, which is being hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan in Baku from 11-22 November.
The coinciding of these two events presents an ideal opportunity to promote the link between road safety, active mobility, and sustainable development to a wider global audience, and call for more attention to be placed on road safety as a sustainable development issue.
Young people in particular have the most at stake when it comes to road safety with road traffic injuries being the leading cause of death of young people between the ages of 5-29 globally.
In September 2024, therefore, with the support of the FIA Road Safety Grant Programme, we joined forces with the National Automobile Club of Azerbaijan (AMAK) and the Global Youth Coalition on Road Safety to organise a workshop for students of the ADA University in Baku looking at the links between road safety, youth, and the COP29 agenda.
During the half-day event, we explored a number of themes and issues around road safety and its impact on youth. We also used the time explore ideas for an impactful World Day of Remembrance commemoration event that could be held in Baku alongside the COP29 meeting to raise further awareness of the issue and encourage more meaningful engagement in road safety at a global level.
The workshop concluded with the establishment of a youth-led organising committee to put these plans into action. On Sunday 17 November, AMAK will lead a dedicated event at the Deniz Shopping Mall. Based on the WDoR slogan Remember. Support. Act., this event will encourage interactive engagement from members of the public and any COP delegates exploring Baku. Details of the event will be shared on social media along with a live Q&A with international representative discussing the links between active mobility and road safety, and why COP29 discussions should take the issue seriously.