Azerbaijan.. COP 29 Summit kicks off today

Arab Weather - The Azerbaijani capital, Baku, is hosting the "Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29)", which begins today, Monday, and continues until November 22. The annual conference aims to discuss the growing threats of climate change, and attracts diplomats from around the world to a city that was previously a center for the oil industry.

Baku: The Source of the Oil Industry

Baku is a historic oil producing site, having developed its first oil fields in 1846 and becoming the world’s top oil producer in 1899, according to the Associated Press. Despite this history, Azerbaijan’s exports still rely heavily on oil and gas, two of the world’s biggest sources of carbon dioxide emissions.

Challenges facing Azerbaijan in moving away from fossil fuels

Azerbaijan faces challenges in reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, as do many countries, including the United States and the United Arab Emirates, which hosted COP28 last year. However, observers such as Kate Waters, executive director of the Caspian Sea environmental group Crowd Accountability, say Azerbaijan has historically taken no effective steps to move away from fossil fuels. Waters added that environmental oversight in Azerbaijan is risky because of government restrictions on civil society that have weakened dissent and led to the arrest of activists.

Increased European dependence on Azerbaijani gas after the Ukrainian crisis

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted Russian gas supplies to Europe, to the benefit of Azerbaijan, which signed an agreement with the European Union to increase its natural gas exports, aiming to reach 20 billion cubic meters per year by 2027. But questions remain about Azerbaijan’s ability to meet this demand amid disagreements over the details and duration of the agreement.

Azerbaijani officials have responded to criticism of their increased fossil fuel production, saying it is unfair to criticize Baku given European demand for fossil fuels that help lower energy prices for citizens.

COP29 highlights Azerbaijan’s challenges

The re-organization of COP29 in Azerbaijan highlights the challenges of a country whose economy is mainly dependent on fossil fuel revenues, in addition to the continued dependence of Europe and the world on this source of energy.

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