FAQs about COP29 Baku 2024

4. Who chaired COP29 and why did the inaugural speech cause outrage?

COP29 was chaired by Muxtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, who has held that position since 2018. Babayev studied at Moscow State University and was a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2010-2018).

What surprised the audience is the opening speech of Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, the host country of COP29. He made an apology for oil, thereby going in the opposite direction to the main objective of the COP, which is to reduce the use of fossil fuels, oil being the main one, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, in turn one of the main causes of global warming. He literally said:

“Oil and gas are a gift from God, as are the sun, wind and minerals” …“All natural resources, whether oil, gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper, all of them are natural resources. Countries should not be blamed for having them, or for bringing them to market, because the market needs them.”

FAQs about COP29 Baku 2024

1. What is COP29, when and where did it take place?
2. Where is Azerbaijan?
3. Is Azerbaijan an oil country?
4. Who chaired COP29 and why did the opening speech cause outrage?
5. What was the moto of COP29?
6. What was the agenda of COP29?
7. What were the three key points of COP29?
8. What was the commotion last year at COP28?
9. What was the final controversy over financing at COP29?
10. Which country was chosen to host COP30 and when is it scheduled to take place?