Geopolitical games: COP29 is hosted by a country where everything comes from one hand

Roughly halfway through the 12-day climate conference known as COP29, critics say that host Azerbaijan is using the global event to boost fossil fuels—while using the tools of autocracy to snuff out dissenting voices, The Washington Post writes.

Although Azerbaijan is not the first country reliant on the oil and gas industry to host the annual conference, it has notably vocalized its support for fossil fuels. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev referred to oil and gas as “a gift of God.” “Countries should not be blamed for bringing those resources to market. People need them,” he stated.
Ali Karimli, the leader of the Azerbaijani opposition, said in an interview that the country has “never been in harmony with greening issues.”

Azerbaijan only received the opportunity to host this year’s COP due to geopolitical reasons. The event is held regionally, and it was originally planned for Eastern Europe to take on this role in 2024. However, Russia, due to its competition with the West, declined to host any EU events, opening the door for Azerbaijan, whose bid was granted after Armenia, Azerbaijan’s long-time adversary, expressed support for Baku in exchange for the release of prisoners. Azerbaijan has dubbed the conference the “COP of Peace” but the country has used the event to promote its capital city, which overlooks the Caspian Sea. Reports of human rights violations and government criticisms are suppressed within the country. When opposition leader Karimli was giving an interview in a hotel lobby, he spoke in a low voice. Karimli, who has been accused of slander and whose party members number over 50 imprisoned, later sent a text message clarifying that he was being monitored by government security personnel. “This is a country where everything comes from one hand,” he noted, referring to Aliyev.