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COP29 in Baku brings together world leaders and climate negotiators to address pressing challenges in the fight against climate change. This year’s discussions center on climate finance, with developing countries calling for up to $1-2 trillion annually to support clean energy transitions and adaptation measures. Achieving this requires leveraging private investment, guarantees from wealthier nations, and multilateral development bank resources. Mythili Rao, Producer of Zero at Bloomberg News, and Akshat Rathi, Senior Climate Reporter at Bloomberg News, highlight Azerbaijan’s unique role as host. As a major fossil fuel exporter, Azerbaijan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to a greener future, including SOCAR’s adoption of decarbonization plans, methane reduction initiatives, and renewable energy projects. Hosting COP29 has put a spotlight on the country’s efforts as it seeks to balance its economic reliance on fossil fuels with the global energy transition. Avinash Persaud, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, underscores the importance of credible commitments to meet the growing financial needs of developing countries. At the same time, negotiators are working to finalize Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, aiming to create transparent and effective carbon markets that channel funding toward genuine climate action. Amid global tensions, COP29 President Mukhtar Babyaev ceasefires to reduce both humanitarian crises and the emissions generated by conflict, underscoring the interconnected nature of global challenges. #COP29 #ClimateFinance #CarbonMarkets #ParisAgreement #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Baku #Azerbaijan #Runh

Is it really bad that the Chief Executive of COP29 the UN Climate Change Conference has been filmed talking about making deals for new Fossil Fuel projects? Yes (and No) Elnur Soltanov is the Chief Executive of the COP29 Conference being held in Azerbaijan. He is also their Deputy Energy Minister. Oil and Gas account for almost half of Azerbaijan's total economy and 90% of its exports. Why on Earth are we allowing a country so dependent on Oil and Gas for its economy to host a conference on climate change? They are always going to be compromised. Are they really going to say, 'Let's stop using these Fossil Fuels' and collapse their own economy? Absolutely they will want to promote their 'green transition'. There is obviously a breach in trust. COP is meant to be independent of deal making, so the implication that a company might sponsor the event and then expect some meetings to discuss investment is against their rules. But does anyone really believe that is the case? A company sponsors an event and doesn't expect influence?? Note that the BBC is selective in the attached video highlighting the Gas Fields comment and not the Green projects comment. I get the feeling this is someone touting their country for external investment (with someone representing an external investor), not just fossil fuels. It's also a bit of a honey trap. The undercover reporter is pretending to be representing a multi-billion investment company. I don't feel I'm in a position to criticise. Whilst I like to think personally we are doing our bit for the environment, I'm not sure we are. #cop29 #energy #energytech https://lnkd.in/eE8Rerd6

We are two days until #COP29, with hopes of negotiation on climate finance and new collective quantified goal(NCQG), national adaptation plans, growing the loss and damage fund, phasing out of fossil fuels, amongst others. A report from BBC News has broke out of a senior official at COP29 Azerbaijan who has used his role to arrange a meeting to discuss fossil fuel deals 👇 https://lnkd.in/db9GqkrE This is coming at a time when we are clamoring for transitioning to clean energy and the phasing out of fossil fuel, in our community greatly impacted 👇 https://lnkd.in/dJXRZw82. This conference aims to solve the climate crisis and transition away from hydrocarbons in a just, orderly, and equitable manner. What is the hope of our community that has been greatly affected by the fossil fuel companies and have sent us to represent and speak on their behalf? Should we call COP29 a failed one going by this report and the breach of the code of conduct for COP29? What are your thoughts?

Fifteen minutes to go till the start of #COP29 in Baku! This year's convention promises talks of climate financing, especially in developing countries. It brings forth hope for those who are most impacted by the climate crisis, whilst being low on the list of contributors to GHG emissions. However, the event does not come without its share of controversy. Three days ago, BBC put up an expose of Elnur Soltanov, a senior COP official in Baku, being caught trying to strike a deal with a fake oil investment company. All COP officials are prohibited from practicing behaviours that contest the agreements made during the convention, so it's sad to see high-ranking executives indulge in such self-serving activities. Christiana Figueres, who oversaw the signing of the 2015 Paris agreement, said that such behaviour was "contrary and egregious" to the the purpose of COP and "a treason" to the process. Read here: https://lnkd.in/eVvJpSJm Off to a bit of a shaky start, but let's see what the actual conference holds! COP29 Azerbaijan #climatechange #baku #environment

Choosing oil-producing countries to host the COP is by definition not a good idea, given that their objective is to produce every last drop of oil and every last cm3 of gas. After the United Arab Emirates were caught last year discussing fossil fuel agreements at COP, here is a recording highlighted by the BBC of the chief executive of Azerbaijan's COP29 Azerbaijan team, Elnur Soltanov, discussing "investment opportunities" in the state oil and gas company with a man posing as a potential investor. The UN climate science body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC has made very clear that "developing… new oil and gas fields is incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5C". It also goes against the agreement the world made at the last global climate summit to transition away from fossil fuels. As long as the oil and gas sector is not seriously engaged in a transition to the end of production, its representatives have no place at the COP climate. #climateaction UNFCCC UN

📢 Will COP29 Azerbaijan unlock trillions required to pay the #netzero bill while pulling the plug on #coal, #oil, and #naturalgas growth by embarking on massive scale #fossilfuels phase-out, enabling #climate activists to win this year’s round of high-stakes #energy game or will the outcome favor #BigOil? 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬: 🔗Stronger focus on #climatefinance 🔗Bridging funding gaps and tackling money troubles 🔗$1.3 trillion required annually by 2035 for #ParisAgreement goals 🔗#Undercover ops: COPs and ‘sinister’ petrostate playbook 🔗At least 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists gain access to COP29 ⚓ 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 ➡️https://buff.ly/40O2Heb #oilgas #energysecurity #energytransition #oilandgasnews #offshoreenergy #oilandgas #decarbonization #climateaction #climatechange #COP #UN #COP29 #fossilenergy Global Witness UN Climate Change UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) World Trade Organization 📸 António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General; Credit: UNFCCC/Kiara Worth

Anyone else feeling the Déjà-vu? After the United Arab Emirates last year, once again a petrostate is hosting the UN Climate Change Conference. The parallels are alarming: 🛢️ Azerbaijan is a major exporter of oil & gas 💸 The country’s state-owned oil & gas company SOCAR spends hundreds of millions of dollars to search for new fossil gas resources 🙆 The Aliyev regime has an abysmal human rights record COP29 is a crucial moment for countries to set more ambitious emissions reduction targets. Given the Azerbaijani fossil fuel expansion plans, we cannot but ask ourselves: Did the world put the fox in charge of the henhouse?   Under these conditions it will be extra hard for civil society and climate-ambitious governments to make the negotiations in Baku a success. Even more so as Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel path is funded by EU, The World Bank and other multilateral banks, European banks like DZ BANK AG and European fossil fuel companies like bp, TotalEnergies and Eni.   More about this in our joint new report with CEE Bankwatch Network: https://lnkd.in/eZAbmC_G ReCommon The Climate Reality Project COP29 Azerbaijan

The Chief Executive of Azerbaijan’s COP29 team, Elnur Soltanov, was caught promoting fossil fuel deals.  The choice of Baku as the venue for COP29 is regrettable.  This incident undermines the credibility of COP29, as it suggests the host country’s interests conflicts with the goals of the climate summit.  Soltanov’s dual role as the chief executive of COP29 and the deputy energy minister of Azerbaijan raises concerns about a conflict of interest.  He appears to be using his position to benefit the state oil and gas company.  Such actions erode public trust in the integrity of the COP process and the commitment of host countries to climate goals.  This scepticism is why Red Sycamore is not at COP29. There should be reforms to prevent fossil fuel lobbyists from influencing climate talks and to ensure that officials do not use their roles for private gain.  This occurred in COP28, at Dubai, and this is a repeat of that.  The incident creates tension and mistrust among participating countries, affecting the negotiations and outcomes of COP29.  This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing economic interests with climate justice.  It should lead to stricter policies and measures to prevent similar incidents in future climate conferences. Terence Nunis Terence K. J. Nunis, Consultant President, Red Sycamore Global

The Chief Executive of Azerbaijan’s COP29 team, Elnur Soltanov, was caught promoting fossil fuel deals.  The choice of Baku as the venue for COP29 is regrettable.  This incident undermines the credibility of COP29, as it suggests the host country’s interests conflicts with the goals of the climate summit.  Soltanov’s dual role as the chief executive of COP29 and the deputy energy minister of Azerbaijan raises concerns about a conflict of interest.  He appears to be using his position to benefit the state oil and gas company.  Such actions erode public trust in the integrity of the COP process and the commitment of host countries to climate goals.  This scepticism is why Red Sycamore is not at COP29. There should be reforms to prevent fossil fuel lobbyists from influencing climate talks and to ensure that officials do not use their roles for private gain.  This occurred in COP28, at Dubai, and this is a repeat of that.  The incident creates tension and mistrust among participating countries, affecting the negotiations and outcomes of COP29.  This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing economic interests with climate justice.  It should lead to stricter policies and measures to prevent similar incidents in future climate conferences. Terence Nunis Terence K. J. Nunis, Consultant President, Red Sycamore Global

The Chief Executive of Azerbaijan’s COP29 team, Elnur Soltanov, was caught promoting fossil fuel deals.  The choice of Baku as the venue for COP29 is regrettable.  This incident undermines the credibility of COP29, as it suggests the host country’s interests conflicts with the goals of the climate summit.  Soltanov’s dual role as the chief executive of COP29 and the deputy energy minister of Azerbaijan raises concerns about a conflict of interest.  He appears to be using his position to benefit the state oil and gas company.  Such actions erode public trust in the integrity of the COP process and the commitment of host countries to climate goals.  This scepticism is why Red Sycamore is not at COP29. There should be reforms to prevent fossil fuel lobbyists from influencing climate talks and to ensure that officials do not use their roles for private gain.  This occurred in COP28, at Dubai, and this is a repeat of that.  The incident creates tension and mistrust among participating countries, affecting the negotiations and outcomes of COP29.  This situation highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing economic interests with climate justice.  It should lead to stricter policies and measures to prevent similar incidents in future climate conferences. Terence Nunis Terence K. J. Nunis, Consultant President, Red Sycamore Global