Azerbaijan wins regional backing to host COP29 local weather summit

Azerbaijan seems to be set to host subsequent yr’s COP29 local weather change summit after successful backing from different Eastern European nations on Saturday.

Due to host subsequent yr’s summit, nations from the Eastern European area backed Baku’s bid throughout the COP28 summit in Dubai.

Two sources accustomed to the discussions instructed Reuters nations within the regional group formally backed Azerbaijan’s bid in a gathering on Saturday afternoon.

“We’re very grateful to all countries, particularly the Eastern European group and the [COP28 summit] host, the United Arab Emirates, for their support,” the nation’s ecology minister Mukhtar Babayev instructed the COP28 summit.

The choice on a number had been held up after Russia mentioned it might veto any European Union nation’s bid to be the host. The EU has imposed sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Azerbaijan just isn’t an EU member.

Baku’s bid nonetheless wants formal approval from the practically 200 nations on the COP28 talks, however delegates mentioned on Saturday they count on that vote to be a formality.

UN local weather summit hosts are often introduced years prematurely, and the impasse over the COP29 host has left Baku with scarce time to arrange for the large gathering.

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada instructed Reuters on Friday Baku was properly outfitted to carry it, with sufficient venues and facilities.

This yr’s UN local weather summit within the UAE was the most important but, with greater than 110,000 delegates registered.

Holding the presidency of a UN local weather summit provides a rustic large affect on its agenda and outcomes.

Baku’s relations with some Western nations have deteriorated since September, when Baku retook full management of the breakaway area of Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting an virtually whole exodus of the territory’s ethnic Armenian inhabitants.

Azerbaijan is an oil and gasoline producer and a member of OPEC+.

Hajizada instructed Reuters he understood these considerations and famous Azerbaijan’s plans to diversify its vitality sources to incorporate extra wind and solar energy.

Azerbaijan and Armenia introduced a deal on Thursday permitting Baku to bid for COP29 with out the specter of an Armenian veto.