Petrostates Dilemma: Azerbaijan Hosts UN Climate Talks Amid Climate Crisis

As the world gathers in Baku for COP29 amid increasing climate crises and authoritarian governance, Azerbaijan's role as host raises questions about the effectiveness of climate negotiations led by a petrostate.

Heading into the COP29 climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, the global community faces an unsettling paradox: a country whose economy is almost entirely reliant on fossil fuels is hosting a summit intended to address climate change. This scenario underscores the tensions between rising climate emergencies and the presence of autocratic governments at the forefront of these discussions.

The selection of Azerbaijan as host stemmed from a complicated diplomatic process within the United Nations framework, which was manipulated by Russia, another autocratic petrostate. Traditionally, the UN climate summit, hosted annually in different parts of the world, involves decisions made by the Eastern European bloc. With Russia vetoing potential hosts who condemned its invasion of Ukraine, countries like Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Moldova were eliminated from contention, ultimately leaving Armenia and Azerbaijan as the last two options—despite their protracted conflict.

The year marks a pivotal moment as the delegates arrive in Baku, where many are likely to reflect on the irony of holding crucial climate discussions in a nation that benefits economically from the fossil fuels contributing to global warming. This juxtaposition challenges the integrity of the climate dialogue and the commitments that accompany it.

As participants gather in vibrant Baku, they must grapple with the implications of negotiating climate policies within a framework manipulated by geopolitical agendas—shining a light on the complexities and contradictions of addressing global warming through a lens clouded by politics and power dynamics.