The revelations raise serious questions about transparency and integrity at the climate conference.
COP29 Leader in Hot Water Over Fossil Fuel Dealings
COP29 Leader in Hot Water Over Fossil Fuel Dealings
Secret footage captures Azerbaijan's COP29 chief discussing gas and oil investments with an investor posing as a buyer.
In a shocking turn of events, Elnur Soltanov, the chief executive of Azerbaijan’s COP29 climate change conference, has been caught on tape discussing potential fossil fuel investments. The secret recording, made by the human rights organization Global Witness, features Soltanov engaging with an individual disguised as an investor. He touted Azerbaijan's "development potential" in its gas fields, despite the conference's central purpose of addressing climate change.
Azerbaijan's COP29 team has not offered any comment following the revelations. Notably, Soltanov serves as the deputy energy minister and sits on the board of the state oil company, Socar, lending an alarming duality to his role amid the climate discussions. Former UN climate negotiation heads have condemned his actions as a breach of trust, asserting it undermines the integrity of the COP process.
As preparations for COP29 unfold in Baku, an analysis of Azerbaijan’s economy shows a heavy reliance on oil and gas, contributing to half of the nation's economic output. The conference aims to tackle urgent climate issues and foster global solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change, yet Soltanov's comments suggest an inclination to advance energy deals rather than genuine climate progress.
During his conversation with the fake investor, Soltanov claimed COP29’s agenda includes “solving the climate crisis” while simultaneously indicating openness to financial commitments from oil and gas firms. Those seeking access to the summit and investment opportunities found the COP29 team readily accommodating, with proposals for sponsorships being exchanged.
Controversy continues to cloud the legitimacy of climate negotiations, as Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief, labeled the activities as "treason" to the COP mission; she expressed outrage that any COP official would facilitate fossil fuel dealings in a context designed to diminish reliance on such energy sources. Her remarks highlight the incongruity between the ongoing climate crisis and the actions of certain key figures within the COP framework.
New evidence reveals attempts to secure sponsorship for COP29 from the dubious investor, which included discussions of promoting "sustainable oil and gas investing" as an event topic. Further correspondence indicated interests aligning around unlocking funding for Socar in exchange for participation at the conference. These troubling disclosures follow last year’s COP28, where similar controversies over fossil fuel priorities were reported.
As COP29 progresses next week, anticipation builds on how this will affect public trust and outcomes in a world rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuel dependency against the backdrop of climate emergencies.
Azerbaijan's COP29 team has not offered any comment following the revelations. Notably, Soltanov serves as the deputy energy minister and sits on the board of the state oil company, Socar, lending an alarming duality to his role amid the climate discussions. Former UN climate negotiation heads have condemned his actions as a breach of trust, asserting it undermines the integrity of the COP process.
As preparations for COP29 unfold in Baku, an analysis of Azerbaijan’s economy shows a heavy reliance on oil and gas, contributing to half of the nation's economic output. The conference aims to tackle urgent climate issues and foster global solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change, yet Soltanov's comments suggest an inclination to advance energy deals rather than genuine climate progress.
During his conversation with the fake investor, Soltanov claimed COP29’s agenda includes “solving the climate crisis” while simultaneously indicating openness to financial commitments from oil and gas firms. Those seeking access to the summit and investment opportunities found the COP29 team readily accommodating, with proposals for sponsorships being exchanged.
Controversy continues to cloud the legitimacy of climate negotiations, as Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief, labeled the activities as "treason" to the COP mission; she expressed outrage that any COP official would facilitate fossil fuel dealings in a context designed to diminish reliance on such energy sources. Her remarks highlight the incongruity between the ongoing climate crisis and the actions of certain key figures within the COP framework.
New evidence reveals attempts to secure sponsorship for COP29 from the dubious investor, which included discussions of promoting "sustainable oil and gas investing" as an event topic. Further correspondence indicated interests aligning around unlocking funding for Socar in exchange for participation at the conference. These troubling disclosures follow last year’s COP28, where similar controversies over fossil fuel priorities were reported.
As COP29 progresses next week, anticipation builds on how this will affect public trust and outcomes in a world rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuel dependency against the backdrop of climate emergencies.
