Azerbaijan for COP29 provokes controversy and defence

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11–22 November 2024. The location of COP29 has already been the cause of some controversy, writes James Drew.

In a media briefing held on 30 October in Brussels, Michael Bloss, Greens/EFA member of the delegation of the European Parliament to COP29 told EU Reporter: “COP29 will take place in a country that thrives on oil and gas profits while suppressing opposition, free media, and human rights defenders. Before international attention turns to COP29, opposition and civil society are being silenced. We have spent a long time on climate issues in the European Parliament, and we do not want the COP to take place in Azerbaijan.”

In response, Azerbaijan Ambassador Vaqif Sadıqov was strident in his defence of his country: “With the briefing that took place yesterday in the European Parliament, I do not believe that Azerbaijan was fairly treated, as we did not have an opportunity to put our point of view across.

“We were told it was only for media, but we have since discovered that there were representatives there who were not media, so why could Azerbaijan not have its voice?

“As a member of the United Nations, Azerbaijan has long struggled to ensure that we do our very best to meet our international obligations. I would like to say that there is a lack of attention, a lack of reaction by certain European institutions, and most certainly at the moment Baku needs this reaction, it needs support.

“One of our key ambitions is a green electricity project, which actually envisages production of green electricity from solar wind generators and hydroelectric power. However, it’s very difficult to be convinced that green or renewable energy can replace fossil fuel overnight – everybody understands that we cannot switch to green energy overnight.

“You need fantastic practices in place as well as fantastic investment, against the factor of wrestling an economy away from fossil fuel. This is exactly what Azerbaijan is calling for in response to this question.”

Unless greenhouse gas emissions fall dramatically, warming could pass 2.9°C this century, which could have catastrophic consequences for life on this planet

Azerbaijan, as host of the COP29 UN climate talks, will launch a set of standards agreed by more than 100 countries to guide sustainable investment, the country’s central bank governor said on Friday.

Climate finance taxonomies are needed to ensure investments are effective in reducing emissions, but investors are concerned the number of differing rule books causes confusion.

The 27-member European Union has delivered one of the most significant investments, but a UN taxonomy could have even wider backing.

“We have developed new unified taxonomy principles together with 110 countries. These principles will be applied in developing national taxonomies, simplifying the process of issuing green loans,” Central Bank Governor Taleh Kazimov told a news conference on Friday (1 November).

Resources

UN Climate Change Conference

Host Country website

UNEP and climate action

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