COP29: Greenwashing Allegations on Azerbaijan, Oil Dependency and Climate Challenges!

Protesters at the COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, have accused the host nation of greenwashing. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined the demonstration in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.

She stated that Azerbaijan, where dissent is suppressed, is more focused on securing oil and gas investments than on addressing the climate crisis, despite its petroleum exports.

The officials claimed that the capital was chosen for its green energy initiatives, yet there are few signs that the country is moving away from its reliance on petrodollars.

Cop 29 B — Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg (left) protests in Tbilisi on November 11 against COP 29 being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The world must transition away from oil and gas, but Azerbaijan has made it clear that it has no intention of changing its business model for the sake of the climate. With 60% of its government revenue derived from fossil fuels, Azerbaijan continues to rely heavily on the primary drivers of the climate crisis.

Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, stated, “Having oil and gas deposits is not our fault; it’s a gift from God.”

The NGO Climate Action Tracker has given Azerbaijan the lowest possible rating for climate protection: “critically insufficient.”

Azerbaijan’s emissions are projected to increase by an additional 20% in the coming years. The country’s own climate targets fall far short of the reductions needed to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

The president and chief negotiator of COP29 is Mukhtar Babayev, who also serves as Azerbaijan’s minister for ecology and natural resources and is a former official of the state oil company. This dual role has raised concerns among analysts.

NiklasHöhne, a climate expert at the New Climate Institute, stated, “Climate negotiations only work if there is a strong, credible, and trustworthy presidency. Azerbaijan does not meet this standard. It is an autocratic country with a poor human rights record, portraying itself as better than it actually is.”

Experts describe the human rights situation in the Caucasus country as disastrous. Human rights organizations report that numerous political prisoners are jailed, with many facing torture.

Critics argue that they have been systematically silenced, especially in the lead-up to the climate conference.

Bashir Suleymanli of the Climate of Justice Initiative stated, “In forming a coalition, we aimed to draw attention to these issues, emphasizing the need for an environment in the country where people can express their opinions, voice grievances, raise concerns, and speak freely. However, before we could achieve this, it was halted, and people were arrested.”

Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom ranking paints a grim picture, with Azerbaijan ranked 164th out of 180 countries. The petrostate is also listed as one of the most corrupt in the world, according to the Transparency International report.

However, the outcome of the Climate Summit does not rest solely on the host country to prevent devastating floods, such as those recently seen in Spain and Brazil, or to support countries affected by climate catastrophes. It is also the responsibility of high-emitting nations, including industrialized Western countries, China, and oil-rich Gulf states.

As seen, the current agenda for COP29 highlights the critical urgency for action. People from around the world are attending the conference in the wake of extreme weather events, including devastating floods and record-breaking temperatures, which have strained economies and exacerbated energy and economic insecurity.

As climate impacts continue to mount, it is increasingly clear that the world must accelerate climate action. The urgency for both enhanced climate action and a comprehensive financial plan is evident. From this perspective, there is a strong sense of urgency within the room regarding the choice of the COP location.

But, in stark contrast, the host country, Azerbaijan, is a nation awash in petrodollars, and its reliance on fossil fuels presents a significant challenge that the world seeks to address. Azerbaijan’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels, both in terms of trade and domestic use, is set to become unsustainable in the future.

What this requires is an increase in renewable and clean energy solutions, along with transition planning, and a phased reduction of fossil fuels. This approach will be emblematic for all countries reliant on fossil fuels.

I believe it’s not just Azerbaijan, but also other countries that must focus on production, consumption, and demand. While progress is being made globally, much more needs to be done to stay on track and keep the Paris temperature goals within reach.

Besides, Azerbaijan is among the many countries where greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise.

Addressing CO2 emissions requires accelerating mitigation actions, a key focus of the COP28 energy package. This necessitates a comprehensive approach—tripling renewable energy, doubling energy efficiency, and phasing out fossil fuels. These actions are interconnected and cannot be achieved in isolation.

In this context, even for a country like Azerbaijan, the current contribution of renewable energy to the energy mix is only about 2%. However, Azerbaijan has outlined plans to increase its renewable energy capacity, setting a target of 5 gigawatts of wind and solar projects by 2030.

However, there is much that can be done. COP is the platform that can demonstrate what is possible and outline the steps needed to implement the COP28 package. This will not only help us meet the 2030 clean energy goals but also guide us in phasing out fossil fuels by mid-century.

From the perspective of securing electricity and energy supply, it is becoming increasingly clear that investment in renewables will be crucial. This presents an opportunity for Azerbaijan to use this platform to grow and develop a comprehensive transition plan.

13-11-2024

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