Azerbaijan is set to host next year’s climate summit, COP29, after receiving support from other Eastern European countries during the ongoing COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates.
Azerbaijani Environment Minister Mukhtar Babayev, as reported by Channel News Asia, expressed gratitude to the Eastern European group and the UAE, the current COP28 host, for their backing.
Azerbaijan’s bid still requires formal approval from about 200 countries participating in the COP28 talks. Delegates today indicated that they expect the vote to be a procedural formality.
The decision to select Azerbaijan as the next host came after Russia announced it would veto any request from an EU country to host the event, given the sanctions imposed on Moscow following the war with Ukraine.
Azerbaijan, a non-EU member state, was chosen as a neutral option.
This development highlights Azerbaijan’s emerging role in international climate discussions and its readiness to facilitate crucial global conversations on climate change and sustainability.
