COP29 Host Azerbaijan Criticized for Fossil Fuel Support and Activist Crackdown

Azerbaijan, hosting the COP29 climate conference, faces criticism for promoting fossil fuels and suppressing dissent. Rights groups accuse the government of cracking down on activists and journalists critical of its oil and gas dependency. President Ilham Aliyev defends fossil fuel use, calling it a necessity, while critics argue the conference is being used for 'greenwashing.' An open letter from climate experts suggests excluding countries not committed to phasing out fossil fuels from hosting future COP events. Azerbaijan's human rights record and its geopolitical maneuvering to host the event have also drawn scrutiny.