Azerbaijan promoted the Condháil Convention of the Irish League Climate Change of the United Nations in Baku, COP29, as the “COP of Peace”, and this Friday as the “Day of Peace” at the COP. But this major diplomatic gathering is marked more by division than unity.
Take the case of France: the President, Emmanuel Macron, no longer went to Baku – for the first time, the French president failed at the COP, because in 2015, in Paris, the Agreement named after the French capital was signed for gas emissions to reduce. with greenhouse effect. This is because there is a diplomatic conflict between the two countries, because of Armenia. But the minister of ClimateAgnès Pannier-Runacher, also canceled her trip to COP29, after the president of Azerbaijan accused France of ”crimes” in its territories abroad.
Argentina was the protagonist with another bad signal; The delegation was sent back to Buenos Aires on Wednesday, a day before far-right President Javier Milei met in Florida with US President-elect Donald Trump – a climate denier the US has already defeated. The Paris Agreement and promises to do it again.
To tell the truth, no one really knows why the Argentine delegation had to return. It was almost allowed to take off as an exception, because Javier Milei also denies climate change and applied the chainsaw technique – which he literally used at his rallies during the election campaign – to spend in the State to reduce, which eliminated eight. ministries and departments.
It is only known that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gerardo Werthein, wants to “re-evaluate” and “explain” the position to be taken, says the Commission. media of Argentina, not knowing what that might mean, and why it was essential to withdraw the Argentine delegation from COP29. “This decision follows a worrying pattern, which started with the elimination of the Ministry of Environment and the constant threats to abandon the Paris Agreement,” he said. location Cambio2000, Argentina’s international law specialist Laura Baron Mendoz.
The COP29 presidency described the incident as “a matter between Argentina and the United Nations,” Reuters reports.
Armenia in the middle
With France, the problem is not one of its position on climate change – besides the fact that French diplomacy is trying to protect the success of the Paris Agreement, which was reached at the Climate Change Convention Conference that took place in the capital of France in 2015. .
Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher canceled her trip to Baku after the speech of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, at COP29, in which she attacked the “hypocrisy” of the West and directly attacked the “regime of President Macron”.
“The lessons of France’s crimes in its alleged overseas territories would not be complete without mentioning the recent human rights violations,” declared the autocrat Aliyev, who leads a regime of human rights abuses.
President Aliyev’s words at COP29 against France and Europe are unacceptable
Agnès Pannier-Runacher
Aliyev accused the French authorities of killing 13 people and injuring 169 people ”during the legitimate protests of the Kanak people in New Caledonia”, referring to the riots in May, sparked by electoral reform that would remove representation that territory. Aliyev also said that France keeps Corsica “under colonial authority”, the French newspaper quoted him as saying. The World.
In recent years, Azerbaijan has increased support for some New Caledonian independence figures, a move that may come as a surprise. A French businessman was arrested in Azerbaijan in December 2023 and charged with espionage. And, already this year, two Frenchmen were arrested and put under political charges and remain in prison. An Azerbaijani dissident was murdered in Mulhouse, France, at the end of September. There are plenty of reasons why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised French citizens not to travel to Azerbaijan.
But the crux of this deteriorating relationship between Azerbaijan and France is France’s traditional strong support for Armenia – although Baku accuses Macron of completely surrendering to Armenia’s point of view and not accepting the sending of French troops to of Armenia.
There is a strong community of descendants of Armenian immigrants in French territory, where the Armenian genocide is very present (a few years before the First World War, with forced evacuation of populations by the army of the Ottoman Empire). History seems to be retelling the conflict between the Armenians and the Assyrians – it is a long history of conflict.
This conflict was changed recently, in the last war on the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, which was captured by the Azerbaijani army in 2023, after a fierce siege, and resulted in a huge exodus of the Armenian population.
“President Aliyev’s words at COP29 against France and Europe are unacceptable. Azerbaijan instrumentalizes the fight against climate deregulation with an unworthy personal agenda”, said Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, in a question session with the Government in the French Senate. “After consultation with the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of the Republic and in agreement, I have decided not to go to Baku next week”, announced the person responsible for Climate Change in the French executive.
It will be another casualty in the European representation, which will also include the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who said she wants to focus on the confirmation hearings in the European Parliament for European commissioners, which are ongoing.
The European delegation is led by the European Commissioner for Climate, the Dutch Wopke Hoekstra. France will still be represented in Baku by ambassador Kevin Magron, says the The World.
What role do human rights issues play in climate negotiations at global conferences like COP29?
Interview between the Time.news Editor and Climate Policy Expert Laura Baron Mendoza
Time.news Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Laura. The recent COP29 held in Baku was promoted by Azerbaijan as a “COP of Peace,” yet it appears to be overshadowed by division. What are your thoughts on how diplomacy is affecting climate negotiations this year?
Laura Baron Mendoza: Thank you for having me. Yes, indeed, the atmosphere at COP29 has been quite contentious. The focus on peace was overshadowed by geopolitical tensions, particularly between France and Azerbaijan over issues related to Armenia. It’s disheartening because climate change requires international unity, not division.
Time.news Editor: France’s absence this year, particularly President Macron’s decision not to attend, is significant. How does this reflect on the state of international climate accords, especially the Paris Agreement?
Laura Baron Mendoza: Macron’s absence marks a critical moment. France has historically been at the forefront of climate diplomacy since the Paris Agreement was established. However, ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan—especially Aliyev’s provocative statements—make it clear that political relationships can heavily influence international collaboration on climate action. This sends a troubling signal to other nations about commitment to climate agreements.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of tensions, we saw Argentina withdraw its delegation, coinciding with President Milei’s meeting with Donald Trump. What implications does this have for Argentina’s climate strategy moving forward?
Laura Baron Mendoza: Argentina’s withdrawal is concerning, particularly given that Milei has expressed skepticism about climate change. The decision to send the delegation back seems to indicate a significant shift in policy, particularly at a time when global cooperation is paramount. Coupled with the elimination of the Ministry of Environment, this raises alarms about Argentina’s commitment to sustained climate action and the Paris Agreement.
Time.news Editor: The rhetoric from President Aliyev, accusing France of hypocrisy regarding human rights violations, adds another layer of complexity. How does this intertwining of human rights and climate issues manifest at a conference like COP29?
Laura Baron Mendoza: This is a critical point. Human rights issues cannot be separated from climate discussions. President Aliyev’s attacks on France not only highlight the geopolitical strife but also underline how issues of governance and human rights can be politicized in climate negotiations. If countries use climate platforms to air grievances, it detracts from the primary focus of combating climate change.
Time.news Editor: Given the backdrop of these diplomatic issues, how do you foresee the future of international climate conferences? Can we expect progress amidst such division?
Laura Baron Mendoza: It’s a difficult outlook. While COPs are crucial for setting and monitoring commitments, the increasing experience of division suggests we may see more challenges ahead. However, the urgency of climate change may push nations towards finding common ground, even if that means addressing underlying tensions first. The key will be whether leaders are willing to prioritize climate action over political discord.
Time.news Editor: Thank you for your insights, Laura. As COP29 illustrates, climate change is as much about scientific consensus as it is about navigating complex political landscapes. We appreciate your perspective on this pivotal issue.
Laura Baron Mendoza: Thank you for having me. It’s essential that we keep discussing these challenges as they unfold. Climate action is a collective responsibility, and dialogue is the first step towards finding solutions.