Azerbaijan’s failure to lead the COP29 summit was expected to be a disappointment even before it began.
The government was given only one year to prepare instead of the usual two years, given a last-minute job because Ukrainian and Russian supporters could not agree on a neutral venue, but the event Even after the talks began, participants complained that Azerbaijan’s negotiators were dissatisfied. Few people are on the ground, and governments seem more interested in cutting gas trade than in stopping global warming.
This perception was further exacerbated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s provocative opening speech. He caused controversy by saying, “Gas is a gift from God,” and at the COP29 summit, he criticized the West for its “hypocrisy” and its reaction. colonialist attitude.
Two days later, he criticized France and the Netherlands for what he termed “repression” and ongoing “colonial domination” and singled out EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who compared emerging countries to a “jungle”. . Arrogant remarks from last year.
“If Josep Borrell, Europe’s leading diplomat, called Europe a garden and the rest of the world a jungle, what can we expect from the European Parliament and PACE? Then stand aside and do not interfere in internal affairs!” Aliyev said at the end of his emotional speech.
Aliyev’s remarks echo Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent Valdai speech. There, the Russian president reiterated his “multipolar” worldview and also harped on about the colonialist attitudes of the West and a polarized world where the dignity of the wealthy “leads” the developing world. . However, they often ignore the value of the market itself. The Global South is shocked by US and European support for what many consider to be Israeli genocide in Gaza, but this is in no way their “principled” support for Ukraine. Contrasting.
“Unfortunately, in some Western countries, double standards, the habit of lecturing others, and political hypocrisy have become the modus operandi of some politicians, state-run NGOs, and fake news media,” Politico said. Aliyev said in an unusual shift in policy, as quoted by. This is a typical diplomatic tone for opening a COP speech with a politically charged accusation against Western countries.
The Aliyev family’s apparent corruption has led human rights groups to criticize the COP29 venue, and Aliyev has also been accused of double standards. A report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) released ahead of COP29 details how the family made a fortune in the gas business, but the wealth generated from it is not widely available to the general Azerbaijani people.
During the European energy crisis of 2022, after the EU was cut off from Russian gas, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Baku to conclude a gas deal with Azerbaijan, as well The EU could be accused of double standards, as it ignored Aliyev’s dire warnings. Human rights record. Currently, Azerbaijan supplies 13 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, but plans to increase this to 20 billion cubic meters in the future.
“That was not our idea,” Aliyev said, referring to Azerbaijan’s expansion of gas exports to Europe. “This was a European Commission proposal.”
Azerbaijan is already a major supplier and could replace Ukraine, which is currently sending 15 bcm of gas to the EU and is scheduled to end a Russian-to-European gas transport agreement at the end of this year.
The main focus of this year’s COP29 appears to be on leading Azerbaijan to reach a consensus on increasing gas usage, rather than reducing it.
“Countries should not be blamed for having resources, nor should they be blamed for bringing these resources to market because the market needs them,” he clarified. “People need them.”
Emissions are now at an all-time high and current policies will see the world see a “catastrophic” 3.1 degree rise in temperatures by the 2050 deadline, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (IPCC) climate models warn that it is on track. As a result, the tragedy in Valencia and similar events in other regions will become an annual event.
At COP28 last year, world leaders pledged for the first time to “transition away from fossil fuels.” But instead, despite the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recommendations against starting new projects at any time in the world, the United States in particular is currently producing more oil and oil than at any time in history. It is producing gas and has approved hundreds of new exploration licenses. The question is whether we can have any hope of staying below the Paris Agreement’s goal of raising temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050.
And instead of realistic plans to reduce oil and gas combustion being the centerpiece of the agenda, the conference’s main focus is now on increasing the $100 billion allocated to developing market investments in green technologies to at least $41 trillion. We are discussing ways to increase it.
At COP28, the United Arab Emirates argued that oil and gas will remain important to the global economy for years to come, and Azerbaijan continues that theme. Genuine concerns about the accelerating climate crisis appear to play little role at this year’s conference.
Frustrated by Mr. Aliyev’s criticism, EU officials formally called for talks in Baku to strengthen last year’s commitment to phase out fossil fuels while maintaining the agreement with Mr. Aliyev. urged.
Azerbaijan’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil and gas, with fossil fuels accounting for nearly half of gross domestic product (GDP) and 92.5% of export earnings in 2022, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.
Bloomberg reported that Aliyev insisted his government supports the transition to green energy, while other Western oil executives at the celebration made similar statements, calling it “realism.” emphasized the need. These companies have emphasized decarbonization efforts and emphasized investments in renewable energy, but they are far from committing to reducing hydrocarbon production “due to investor concerns,” Bloomberg said. Reported.
“As President of COP29, of course we are strongly advocating and implementing the green transition,” Aliyev said. “But at the same time, we have to be realistic.”
Azerbaijan’s leader has also made pointed criticisms of the United States, attacking U.S. media outlets that refer to Azerbaijan as an “oil state,” a term used to describe Azerbaijan as the world’s largest oil and gas producer. He argued that it was suitable for the US position.
Aliyev also slammed environmental and human rights defenders who have been banned from attending the event. For example, Greta Thunberg, a well-known Swedish activist, was refused permission to cross the border and is currently staying in neighboring Tbilisi, where she accused the EU of “selling” and “greenwashing” COP29. Organizing protests to denounce.
“I have bad news for them,” Aliyev said. “We have 72,000 registered participants from 196 countries, including 80 presidents, vice presidents and prime ministers. So the world gathers in Baku and we say to the world: :Welcome to Azerbaijan.”
