The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament’s Post

⚡ Azerbaijan has strengthened its energy ties with the EU since 2022, ramping up gas deliveries and articulating ambitions to export renewable energy and green hydrogen to Europe in the future. However, the EU’s shrinking gas demand and Azerbaijan’s lack of a genuine decarbonization strategy cast uncertainty on the long-term prospects of this partnership – all the more so given the EU’s persistent criticism of political repression and human rights violations in the South Caucasus republic. Yana Zabanova reports ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eHe99vNj #COP29 Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels

Chevron, ExxonMobil, bp, Shell and Eni, which brought a combined total of 39 lobbyists, are also linked to enabling genocide in Palestine by fueling Israel’s war machine #dhakatribune #COP29 #COP29Azerbaijan #COP29Baku

Azerbaijan has strengthened its energy ties with the EU since 2022, ramping up gas deliveries and articulating ambitions to export renewable energy and green hydrogen to Europe in the future. However, the EU’s shrinking gas demand and Azerbaijan’s lack of a genuine decarbonization strategy cast uncertainty on the long-term prospects of this partnership – all the more so given the EU’s persistent criticism of political repression and human rights violations in the South Caucasus republic. Yana Zabanova reports. Expanding energy ties Azerbaijan (population 10.3 million), which is the host of this year’s global climate summit COP29, is the epitome of a country experiencing carbon lock-in. Oil and gas production contributes roughly half of the South Caucasus republic’s GDP and half of all its national budget revenues, as well as more than 90 percent of its export earnings. The largest share of these exports goes to the European Union (EU) and is transported over pipelines running through Georgia and Turkey to Greece, Albania and Italy (Azerbaijan does not produce liquefied natural gas, LNG). With an annual production total of …

The EU and Azerbaijan as Energy Partners: Short-Term Benefits, Uncertain Future https://ift.tt/5U8s6bx Expanding energy ties Azerbaijan (population 10.3 million), which is the host of this year’s global climate summit COP29, is the epitome of a country experiencing carbon lock-in. Oil and gas production contributes roughly half of the South Caucasus republic’s GDP and half of all its national budget revenues, as well as more than 90 percent of its export earnings. The largest share of these exports goes to the European Union (EU) and is transported over pipelines running through Georgia and Turkey to Greece, Albania and Italy (Azerbaijan does not produce liquefied natural gas, LNG). With an annual production total of 48.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas and 30.2 million tons of crude oil (2023 figures), Azerbaijan may be a smaller-sized producer in global comparison, but its importance for the EU has been growing. It is now the fourth-largest supplier of piped gas to the EU with a share of 7 percent, behind Norway, Algeria and Russia. Of the EU’s total gas imports, Azerbaijan’s share stands at 3 percent. The new geopolitical era ushered in by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has presented opportunities to Azerbaijan. As the EU scrambled to secure non-Russian gas supplies, Azerbaijan was quick to step in. In July 2022, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Baku to sign the EU-Azerbaijan Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy. As part of the agreement, Azerbaijan pledged to more than double its gas supplies to Europe to 20 bcm annually by 2027. The EU’s decision to upgrade these ties has been controversial from the very beginning due to Azerbaijan’s worrying track record of political repression and human rights violations. In October 2024, the European Parliament passed a highly critical (although non-binding) resolution calling on the EU to end its “gas reliance” on the country and suspend the 2022 Memorandum. So far, however, political expediency has trumped other concerns. By the end of 2022, Azerbaijan was able to deliver 11.4 bcm to the EU (up from 8.1 bcm in 2021), followed by 11.8 bcm in 2023. Thanks to high gas prices, Azerbaijan’s export earnings from gas surged from USD 5.56 billion in 2021 to USD 14.99 billion in 2022 and USD 13.68 billion in 2023, surpassing revenues from oil exports for the first time in the country’s history. Azerbaijan has also expanded the geography of its exports to Europe. Romania began importing Azeri gas in 2023, followed by Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia in 2024, joining Italy (the largest importer), Bulgaria and Greece. Slovakia has expressed its interest in Azeri gas deliveries as well, while Hungary’s state-owned power company MVM Group acquired a 5 percent stake in Azerbaijan’s major Shah Deniz gas field development project and a 4 percent stake in the South Caucasus Pipeline Company in August...

The EU and Azerbaijan as Energy Partners: Short-Term Benefits, Uncertain Future Azerbaijan has strengthened its energy ties with the #EU since 2022, ramping up #gas deliveries and articulating ambitions to export #renewableenergy and green #hydrogen to Europe in the future. However, the EU’s shrinking gas demand and #Azerbaijan’s lack of a genuine decarbonization strategy cast uncertainty on the long-term prospects of this partnership – all the more so given the EU’s persistent criticism of political repression and human rights violations in the South Caucasus republic. Expanding energy ties Azerbaijan (population 10.3 million), which is the host of this year’s global climate summit #COP29, is the epitome of a country experiencing carbon lock-in. Oil and gas production contributes roughly half of the South Caucasus republic’s GDP and half of all its national budget revenues, as well as more than 90 percent of its export earnings. The largest share of these exports goes to the European Union (EU) and is transported over pipelines running through Georgia and Turkey to Greece, Albania and Italy (Azerbaijan does not produce liquefied natural gas, LNG). With an annual production total of 48.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas and 30.2 million tons of crude oil (2023 figures), Azerbaijan may be a smaller-sized producer in global comparison, but its importance for the EU has been growing. It is now the fourth-largest supplier of piped gas to the EU with a share of 7 percent, behind Norway, Algeria and Russia. Of the EU’s total gas imports, Azerbaijan’s share stands at 3 percent. Read the full #blogpost of Yana Zabanova here: https://lnkd.in/dEDUErGF Forschungsinstitut für Nachhaltigkeit (RIFS)

Only a Pan-African industrial policy on critical minerals for renewable will unlock prosperity Africa’s past failures and the successes of other economies should serve as a guide on how the continent works with partners on the critical minerals front. To secure the best deals for the continent in multilateral and other diplomatic processes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the role of the African Union is key. Negotiating as a bloc would give Africa a stronger voice. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d9dd_fzi

Our take on recent revelations about UAE's oilman Al Jaber corruption at COP, Big Oil's collusion with OPEC+ and funding for Trump's campaign. Exxon Mobil and other major US oil companies collectively earned more than $300 billion in profits over the last two years, benefitting from energy price spikes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now, they are trying to re-invest in grand political corruption with Trump's election campaign. As Big Oil is cashing in on the war, the Russian war economy also thrives on fossil fuel export revenues enabled by OPEC+ and Big Oil, sustaining this devastating conflict that claims innocent lives daily. It’s time to hold Big Oil accountable, just as we must hold Vladimir Putin accountable. Their current actions are not just “business as usual” —they are crimes against humanity and our shared future. Fossil fuel CEOs and their autocratic masters of dirty work like Putin are global arsonists and terrorists. In the new OpEd with Svitlana Romanko, we explain why Big Oil and its autocratic allies are intrinsically linked. https://lnkd.in/dkWmzRG8

David Hundeyin in a brief written for Dialogue Earth argued that Nigerian government needs to kill the Dangote refinery given that it is pollution intensive. This is now a source of debate with different scholars making strong points. The debate involves complex issues involving the economic growth and environmental sustainability of Nigeria. The arguments all merit attention. The position of Nigerian foremost climate scholar Prof Chuks okereke is worth noting. The brief according to him is another form of climate colonialism emphasising that the primary goal of the essay is to increase awareness of the refinery’s paradox within the context of Nigeria’s energy transition plan and its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2060. Though a very valid question and one that have raised concern of the Dangote refinery and Nigeria’s climate commitment. He believe that much of David’s presentation is simplistic, bordering on sensationalism, and has the potential to lead to a conclusion that does not advance a healthy debate about the economic impact of climate change in Nigeria and how we should best respond to ensure Nigeria’s long-term economic sustainability. The conclusion is it will be detrimental to Nigeria if David’s comments make it difficult to have a mature and science-based debate about how Nigeria can best balance its climate change and economic growth goals in order to achieve long-term climate resilience and sustainable development in a rapidly evolving green transition global economy. #climatechange #fossilfuel #Nigeria #dangote

📢 Time to act is now: Razom We Stand new report emphasizes the urgent need for change as COP28 unfolds. Read about the impacts of fossil fuel addiction and discover the urgency of transitioning to clean energy. Now is the time to act for a sustainable and resilient future - https://lnkd.in/em226uBw #StandWithUkraine #COP28 #cop28ua #COP28UAE #EndRussianFossilFuels #climateemergency #actnow and #StopCarbonWar

⛔️🛑Stop the attack on civil society in Azerbaijan! In just a few weeks, Azerbaijan will host the UN Climate Conference, COP29. This is controversial not only because Azerbaijan is a major fossil fuel producer, but also due to its horrific human rights record. The government has imprisoned hundreds of activists and journalists on politically motivated charges, making Azerbaijan one of the least free countries in the world, according to Freedom House. One such activist is Gubad Ibadoghlu, a prominent anti-corruption figure, who was violently arrested and now faces up to 17 years in prison. In addition, the government recently arrested renowned Armenian philanthropist and Aurora Prize co-founder Ruben Vardanyan, further escalating its campaign of repression. Furthermore, last year Azerbaijan forced over 100,000 Armenians to flee Nagorno-Karabakh in what has been widely condemned as ethnic cleansing, leading to a mass exodus of the Armenian population from their historical homeland. COP29 brings a rare spotlight on Azerbaijan, making it a crucial moment to raise our voices. We demand the immediate release of Ruben Vardanyan, as well as Gubad Ibadoghlu and all other political prisoners. Respect for human rights and a genuine peace process with Armenia must be the foundation for any EU agreements with Azerbaijan! Until then, we call for the suspension of the EU-Azerbaijan gas deal. #cop29 #azerbaijan #armenia #gubadibadoghlu #rubenvardanyan #humanrights #eu #climatechange #ethniccleansing