Azerbaijan and COP29: a real approach and an example for everyone

Azerbaijan's chairmanship of COP29 officially begins this week.

Last week, the world came together under the auspices of the UN Climate Conference COP29. The planet is focused on the theme of the green transition and climate finance until November 22, with Baku remaining in the spotlight. As the conference nears its conclusion, attention is intensifying. What decisions will the conference reach? Will a consensus be possible, and will those most responsible for the emerging climate crisis finally be held accountable? Words alone cannot solve the problem.

The issue cannot be resolved by merely blaming oil and gas-producing countries. Over the past week, there have been vocal protests, with the main slogan being outrage over holding a climate conference in an oil and gas-producing country. Western media coverage of COP29 has often linked the presence of natural resources to "human rights" concerns.

That's right Azerbaijan is often "blamed" in many ways. Let's acknowledge it. Indeed, the global oil industry has deep roots in Baku. Nearly two hundred years ago, the first industrial oil well was drilled here, and in the mid-20th century, the world's first offshore oil platform was established. Azerbaijani specialists played a significant role in developing the oil and gas industry both within the Soviet Union and internationally. However, much has changed since then, and Azerbaijan no longer sets the global agenda in this sector. Today, its share in global oil production is just 0.7%, and in global gas production, it stands at 0.9%. Despite this, European media continue to spotlight the issue.

It was particularly interesting to watch how a DW journalist stumbled while attempting to promote an Indian environmental expert to criticize Azerbaijan. For the interview, DW selected a representative from India, presumably expecting a lack of sympathy for Baku. The journalist, who had prepared a biased story about COP29, tried to push the expert into condemning Azerbaijan's oil and gas industry. However, the interviewee didn't take the bait, skillfully avoiding the attempt to tarnish Azerbaijan's image.

It is worth recalling President Ilham Aliyev's words during his opening speech at the Summit of COP29 leaders on November 12. "In the 19th century, Azerbaijan produced more than half of the world's oil. If some Western politicians and media had called us an 'oil state' back then, it might have been acceptable. But when they call us an 'oil state' today, it is unjust and only reflects a lack of political culture and knowledge," the president concluded.

President Ilham Aliyev spoke directly and frankly, not attempting to wave climate flags in vain, as many others tend to do. In a sense, he confronted the Western media, which are often critical of Baku, reiterating his belief that oil and gas are a "gift from God." "As president of COP29, we will, of course, strongly advocate for a green transition, and we are actively working on it. But at the same time, we must be realistic," President Aliyev emphasized.

Only a strong and confident leader can afford to be so candid. Azerbaijan has nothing to hide and no reason to bow to external pressures. Its contribution to global climate problems is just 0.1 percent. At the same time, when it comes to the pace of implementing the green transition goals, Azerbaijan can set an example for many other countries.

Aliyev's pragmatic approach reflects a key point—while Azerbaijan acknowledges the importance of transitioning to a greener future, it also recognizes the need for a balanced, realistic strategy that doesn’t sacrifice national interests or the livelihoods of its people. This is an approach that not only challenges the narrow, one-sided narratives pushed by some, but also shows that true leadership in tackling climate change involves both ambition and practicality.

On the first day of COP29, the foundation was laid for the Shafag solar power plant in the liberated Jabrayil district, a project backed by BP. During the conference, a memorandum of understanding was signed between SOCAR, Masdar (UAE), and ACWA Power (Saudi Arabia) to produce 3.5 gigawatts of wind power in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea sector. The 9th Ministerial Meeting and steering committee session took place as part of the Agreement on Strategic Partnership for the development and transfer of green energy between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary.

Additionally, on the sidelines of COP29, an agreement on cooperation in "green" cars was signed between GreenCar (Azerbaijan) and Nio (China). The signing ceremony of the "Executive Program for Cooperation in the Development and Transfer of Green Energy" between the Ministries of Energy of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia was attended by the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Further, SOCAR Green LLC, Masdar, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed agreements to finance two solar energy projects in Azerbaijan.

These initiatives are just a glimpse of the broader efforts underway. We are not discussing agreements or deals made by other countries that don't directly involve Azerbaijan.

As we can see, Azerbaijan is actively advancing its renewable energy sector and working toward its emission reduction targets—despite being an oil and gas producer. While other nations are still talking, Azerbaijan is rolling up its sleeves, investing oil revenues into its green transition. The country is not merely making promises; it is taking concrete steps to ensure a sustainable future, proving that small nations can make big impacts.

By 2027, Azerbaijan plans to invest $2.8 billion in renewable energy, with the construction of 8 large solar and wind power plants totaling around 2 GW of capacity, to be integrated into the national energy grid. As Fagan Abdurakhmanov, head of the Renewable Energy Zone Development Department at the Renewable Energy Agency of Azerbaijan (AREA), explained during the forum on investments in energy transition for Central Asia, the 2 GW target is not just a figure but a carefully calculated value based on assessments conducted by an American firm, with additional confirmation from a Turkish consulting company. Abdullayev emphasized that these figures reflect the renewable energy capacity that Azerbaijan’s grid can integrate by 2027, considering necessary upgrades and improvements.

During the ministerial meeting on energy initiatives at COP29, Deputy Minister of Energy Orhan Zeynalov shared that Azerbaijan’s COP29 chairmanship is preparing a commitment related to green energy zones and corridors. This commitment has two key components: green corridors and green energy zones. Green corridors are critical for the cost-effective transmission of green energy across borders and over long distances, which can reduce prices and improve the overall efficiency of energy transfer.

A feasibility study for the Central Asia-Azerbaijan energy corridor will begin soon, following an interstate agreement signed last week by the heads of state of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Another energy corridor, Azerbaijan-Turkiye, with a planned capacity of 1.5 GW, is also in progress, with work on the feasibility study already underway. By 2030, Azerbaijan plans to produce 7 GW of renewable energy, with 5 GW earmarked for export.

Azerbaijan is actively doing its part to contribute to the green transition. The second week of COP29 is expected to be especially intense as the decision-making phase approaches. The Azerbaijani delegation has taken all necessary steps to ensure a conducive environment and business atmosphere to facilitate effective work and reach agreements on key items on the forum’s agenda. As we have noted, this includes securing funding and investment.

Azerbaijan’s leadership of COP29 will provide an opportunity to secure fair and ambitious outcomes in the area of climate finance. Samir Bezhanov, Deputy Lead Negotiator for COP29, emphasized at a press conference that Azerbaijan will work closely with the chairs of subsidiary bodies and all parties involved to achieve a fair and ambitious outcome this year. He urged all participants to focus on negotiations concerning the key agenda item: climate finance.

It is important to remember that the COP29 conference is a global event held under the auspices of the United Nations. Azerbaijan is fully committed to meeting its obligations and will continue to do so, regardless of whether other nations uphold theirs. However, it is crucial to note that decisions on global climate financing do not rest solely with Azerbaijan. These decisions are made by major powers and international financial institutions. Whether the key parties will be able to reach a consensus on financing remains an open question—one that we will have an answer to in the near future.