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The Baku Network website published an article about the significance of COP29 for Azerbaijan and the international community.
Day.Az presents the full text of the article:
This November, Baku will become the center of world diplomacy, hosting the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29). The event comes against a backdrop of high expectations and growing confidence that the world is close to reaching a major agreement on climate finance. But it also comes at a time of global instability, where the climate agenda and international security issues are intertwined as never before.
Azerbaijan, by hosting COP29, became not just a participant in climate negotiations, but also a symbol of the revival of a region that has endured decades of conflict. The country has proposed a “Climate Truce” idea, inspired by the ancient concept of the Olympic Truce, calling on world leaders to stop conflicts to address the common climate threat. As former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown put it: “The idea of a climate truce is not just a gesture, but a necessity. The planet cannot wait for the end of conflicts before we begin to save it.”
Baku as a bridge to peace and dialogue
Hosting COP29 in Baku was made possible thanks to a series of breakthrough negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, countries that have been in conflict for decades. This process has become a significant example of how diplomacy can open new horizons even in the most difficult political conditions. As Brookings Institution senior foreign policy adviser Richard Haass notes, “the negotiations between Baku and Yerevan were a turning point for the region and an example of how pragmatism and diplomacy can turn deep conflicts into platforms for cooperation.”
These negotiations resulted in landmark agreements, including a historic agreement to support Azerbaijan’s bid to host COP29 and Armenia’s entry into the UN Eastern Europe Climate Group Bureau. This diplomatic success was the culmination of years of efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict and restore trust between the two countries. In December 2023, a joint declaration was signed, establishing the basic principles of interstate relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was an important step towards long-term peace.
Challenges on the path to stability
However, despite progress in relations with Armenia, significant obstacles remain on the path to lasting peace. One of the key factors holding back a final settlement is the Armenian Constitution, which enshrines claims to Nagorno-Karabakh. This is a constant source of tension in bilateral relations, and as American political scientist Stephen Cook notes: “Armenia’s historical territorial claims continue to interfere with stable peace in the South Caucasus.”
In addition, the arming of Armenia by Western countries such as France causes concern on the Azerbaijani side, which considers this a threat to the peace process. Jon Huntsman, former US ambassador to Russia, stressed: “Instability in the region is fueled by external players, and any military impulse could undo fragile progress.”
Azerbaijan strengthens its position on the world stage – ANALYSIS from Baku Network
Internal complexity of Armenian politics
Another factor complicating peace negotiations is the heterogeneity of the Armenian political landscape. In addition to the official government in Yerevan, the situation is influenced by various opposition groups and the diaspora, which often adhere to more radical positions. Diaspora groups, especially in the USA and France, actively lobby for their interests, which may run counter to the official position of the Armenian authorities. As Thomas de Waal, a Caucasus expert at the Carnegie Endowment, noted: “The various branches of Armenian politics sometimes work in unison, but more often than not act independently of each other, complicating the process of dialogue with Baku.”
Opposition groups made up of veterans of the first Karabakh war also continue to advocate military action, posing a risk of renewed conflict. Their influence on public opinion and politics in Armenia remains significant, making peace negotiations even more difficult.
Azerbaijan and the climate agenda
The hosting of COP29 in Azerbaijan has come under some criticism from the country’s geopolitical opponents, who argue that Baku is using the climate agenda to bolster its international image. However, Azerbaijan has long demonstrated serious intentions to transition to a more sustainable model of economic development. As Jean-Marc Jancovici, a French expert on energy and climate issues, notes: “Azerbaijan has shown leadership in the transition to renewable energy. This is not only a political move, but also an economic necessity for a country seeking to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons.”
Today, Azerbaijan is actively investing in projects to develop renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy. This places the country at the forefront of climate change in the region and strengthens its position as a key player in global climate negotiations.
COP29: hopes and expectations
The issue of climate finance will be a central theme of COP29, and Azerbaijan, as host of the conference, plays an important role in facilitating dialogue between developed and developing countries. Attracting financing for climate initiatives in developing countries remains one of the most pressing topics on the international agenda, and Baku is seen as an important mediator in these negotiations.
COP29 in Baku: The Key to Global Climate Solutions
As former US President Barack Obama noted at the UN climate forum last year: “We face the greatest challenge of our time – saving our planet. And the role of countries like Azerbaijan is becoming increasingly important in balancing the interests of the global South and North.” .
… COP29 in Baku is not just another stage of climate negotiations, but also a historical moment for Azerbaijan, which strives not only to become a regional leader, but also to strengthen its position on the world stage. The success of the summit will depend on the ability of participants to reach compromises on key issues such as financing climate initiatives, the transition to renewable energy sources and ensuring sustainable peace in the South Caucasus region.
Azerbaijan, which has overcome years of conflict and become a center of climate diplomacy, today represents an example of how a peaceful future can be built even after long wars. “Peace begins with sustainable development,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized on the eve of COP29, and Azerbaijan certainly plays an important role in this process.