Azerbaijan is using Cop29 climate summit to ‘peacewash’ its global image

The Cop29 host is positioning itself as a peacemaker, which stands in stark contrast to the country’s record of military aggression, human rights abuses, and violations of international law

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, right, greets Russian President Vladimir Puti at Zagulba state residence in Baku, Azerbaijan, in August. Picture: AP

Azerbaijan is hosting the next UN climate summit, Cop29, in November. Its proposed agenda omits discussions on phasing out fossil fuels and excludes civil society participation. This is not a surprise. Azerbaijan has recently increased oil and gas production, and aims to diversify its economy by expanding mining.

The country has instead called for a global truce to coincide with the conference. In an open letter on September 21, the president of Cop29, Mukhtar Babayev, wrote: “[Cop29] is a unique chance to bridge divides and find paths towards lasting peace… The devastation of ecosystems and pollution caused by conflicts worsen climate change and undermine our efforts to safeguard the planet.”