Azerbaijan Secures Hosting Rights for COP29 Climate Summit

Azerbaijan has received regional backing from Eastern European nations to host the COP29 climate change summit next year, resolving months of geopolitical deadlock. The decision has drawn attention to Azerbaijan's oil production and human rights record. While some have raised concerns about holding the global climate talks in an oil-producing nation, Azerbaijan has plans to diversify its energy sources. However, critics argue that hosting COP29 in Azerbaijan would give legitimacy to the government, which has been criticized for its abysmal record on freedom of speech and human rights.