Diplomats and global leaders will converge on Azerbaijan, one of the world's oldest oil producers, when it hosts the climate conference COP29 in its capital, Baku, this week.
Greenwashing charges
The country, in the Caucasus region, is seeking to promote an image of being climate forward, while at the same time making plans to ramp up gas exports. President Ilham Aliyev, apparently once referred to oil and gas as a "gift of the gods".
The city of Baku’s history is closely tied to oil. It was home to the world’s first oil fields in 1846 and remained the largest exporter of oil until 1899.
Today, oil pump jacks are scattered across the city, a testament to Azerbaijan’s ongoing role as a significant energy exporter.
Beyond oil, the country holds one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, the Shah Deniz field, which has become increasingly important to Europe as the continent looks to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
Gas exports to Europe
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the European Union (EU) struck a deal to double its imports of Azerbaijani gas by 2027, which Azerbaijan seized as an opportunity to become pivotal in Europe’s energy future.
Aliyev now says he wants to position Azerbaijan as a regional leader in renewables, though not to reduce gas in the global energy mix but to stockpile it and increase its value.
Aliyev has said: "The more renewable sources we have, the more natural gas we will save." This is gas that could then be exported to Europe at exorbitant cost as the continent struggles to meet demand.
An authoritarian approach
While Azerbaijan highlights its green initiatives, human rights and environmental activists argue the country’s green agenda is superficial, pointing out that Aliyev’s government has suppressed environmental monitoring, failing to address pollution from oil extraction near residential areas.
Residents have reported health impacts from nearby oil operations but government action has been minimal.
What’s more, Azerbaijan's emissions reduction plans are rated as "critically insufficient" by climate scientists, who warn that such initiatives are largely symbolic.
A recent report by Global Witness revealed a 10.5% increase in gas flaring at oil and gas facilities in Azerbaijan since 2018.
Climate finance and carbon markets
This year’s conference agenda includes several critical global initiatives. Delegates are seeking agreement on new annual climate finance targets to support climate adaptation efforts in vulnerable countries, along with progress in establishing multilateral carbon credit markets.
Azerbaijan’s Environment Minister Mukhtar Babayev has stated that Azerbaijan aimed to build on COP28’s agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, though specifics remain sparse.
Azerbaijan joins a line of oil-exporting nations, such as last year's host, the United Arab Emirates, to chair COP.
This backdrop of fossil fuel reliance has stirred criticism of 'greenwashing', with some viewing Azerbaijan’s recent environmental announcements as a thinly veiled PR exercise.