Headlined “Fossil fuel-rich Azerbaijan prepares to host crucial COP29 climate talks” by John Dennehy the participant of the second Shusha Global Media Forum, the article reads:

“Rows of oil rigs dot the shores of the Caspian Sea; derricks abound across the city and flares from refineries puncture the sky.

This is Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where in just a few months the world will gather to tackle climate change. It may seem an unusual place for climate talks but the ex-Soviet republic in the Caucasus says it can be a bridge between disparate regions when it hosts COP29 this November.

“It is a unique chance for us to step into a higher league,” said Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, at the Shusha Global Media Forum on Saturday.

“We now actively work with developing countries in order to build bridges between the Global South and the Global North.”

It was in Azerbaijan that the first oil wells were dug and Baku once supplied half of the world’s needs.

The country is known as the “land of fire” thanks to its vast reserves of natural gas that seep to the surface in places and start blazing.

This black gold was so plentiful it rose to the surface with even famed explorer Marco Polo commenting on the oilfields of the Caucasus.

In about three months, representatives from about 200 countries will meet in Baku to try to address climate change.

COP28 resulted in a deal to transition away from fossil fuels – burning them is the main driver of climate change – but the UN has repeatedly warned the world remains off track to keep temperatures from rising over the key 1.5ºC threshold.

“Azerbaijan has made substantial progress on renewables,” said President Ilham Aliyev.

A drive out of the city past traditional stone houses and signs for COP29 is the vast Garadagh solar plant. Developed by the UAE’s Masdar and opened last year, the 230-megawatt plant in the sun-punished hills is the country’s first industrial-scale solar project. It will power about 110,000 homes, Masdar said, and aims to cut emissions by 200,000 tonnes a year.

“Before I worked for oil and gas,” said Masdar country manager for Azerbaijan, Murad Sadigov. Sadigov underlined how the country was a global pioneer in oil production and the government said it also wants to be a pioneer in green energy. “If the world is changing … Azerbaijan should also be one of the leaders,” he said.

“The air in Baku is much cleaner than it was before. The government is continuously doing these things.”

Baku has a tough task to make COP29 a success. COPs are typically difficult affairs with talks that run late into the night and force the summit into extra time.

It is believed finance – how to pay for that transition away from fossil fuels – will be prominent. The world needs to agree to a new financial pledge to replace the annual $100 billion a year for developing countries.

“It is the most difficult question I have,” said COP29 President- Designate, Mukhtar Babayev on Friday, adding it was not an easy job to bridge gaps given Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel economy.

“It is a process of negotiations [and it is] very difficult now to say what will be decided in November in Baku," he said.

COP29 takes place at Baku’s Olympic Stadium. Inside is restricted for media for now but a large construction effort is under way to transform the venue.

Elnur Soltanov, COP29 chief executive and deputy minister of energy, said about 50,000 attendees are expected, with the blue zone to be located in the stadium and the green zone mainly outside but details are still being worked out. He said Azerbaijan is really good in terms of logistics and hospitality.”

AzVision.az

More about: Azerbaijan   COP29