DUBAI: Azerbaijan has announced that it has secured a consensus to host the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) next year. The announcement was made by Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, during COP28 in Dubai.
The formal approval will be given at the closing of the Dubai summit on Tuesday.
Babayev expressed his delight at the overall consensus on Azerbaijan’s candidacy and affirmed the country’s commitment to working inclusively and collaboratively to ensure the success of COP29. The decision comes amid ongoing discussions at COP28 about whether to call for an end to fossil fuel extraction.
Armenia Pledges Support for Azerbaijan’s Bid to Host COP29
Azerbaijan faced a hurdle earlier in the week, but it cleared it when historic rival Armenia withdrew its bid to lead COP29 and pledged support to Azerbaijan. The move is seen as a step toward repairing relations between the two countries, especially following Azerbaijan’s taking control of Nagorno-Karabakh in September.
Minister Babayev highlighted Azerbaijan’s commitment to pursuing clean technologies in the reconstruction of Nagorno-Karabakh. He stated that the goal is to transform these territories into a carbon-neutral zone by 2050. Additionally, Azerbaijan expressed support for the UN-backed ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Notably, Bulgaria had also sought to host COP29 but withdrew its bid in the face of strong opposition from Russia, which objected to the summit taking place in a European Union member country.
