Lead negotiator: Azerbaijan being object of criticism as COP host is unfair

The hosting of the COP by an oil-exporting country should be appreciated, Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan and the COP29 Lead negotiator, said in an interview with Report.

“Many previous COPs have also been hosted by oil-producing countries. We do not consider it fair for this to be an object of criticism. Because, on the contrary, this is a step that should be appreciated. If oil and gas-producing countries are taking this step, they are taking on a great responsibility,” Rafiyev stated.

According to the diplomat, Azerbaijan's response to these criticisms is that, firstly, Azerbaijan has used the funds it has obtained so far very wisely, investing in renewable energy sources and paying attention to improving the welfare of the population: “These should not be criticized, but only appreciated. Looking at the context of COP29, we see that after Azerbaijan was chosen as the host of COP29, it joined the Global Methane Pledge initiative and committed itself to significantly reducing methane emissions in the coming years.”

He recalled that the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has announced a net zero target by 2050 which alone is a big step: “Azerbaijan has announced that by 2030, the share of renewable energy in its energy balance will reach 30%. Each of these shows that Azerbaijan is determined to achieve its energy transition goals, and despite our production and export of fossil fuels, the allocation of the funds we earn helps us move towards achieving our climate goals.”