The UN’s COP29 climate conference began in Azerbaijan with the participation of nearly 50 representatives from various Russian ministries under the leadership of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The focus of the conference is on financing climate goals, particularly for developing countries, with discussions on global food security scheduled for later in the week. Russia has positioned itself as a provider of food to the Global South, despite facing criticism for exacerbating a global food crisis through its invasion of Ukraine.
As the conference kicked off, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg condemned Azerbaijan’s human rights record, as well as those of previous hosts the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Thunberg characterized COP meetings as greenwashing conferences that fail to address the urgent need for a livable future. Russia’s decision to prevent EU countries from hosting the conference led to Azerbaijan, a country known for its oil and gas production, being selected as the host. This decision was part of a larger agreement involving Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Thunberg specifically called out Azerbaijan for its human rights violations against ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh region and criticized the country for attempting to cover up its actions by promoting green energy initiatives. The presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the conference highlights the geopolitical tensions surrounding the event, especially in the context of Russia’s involvement in the region. The conference is shaping up to be a forum for discussions not only on climate goals and financial support but also on the broader issues of human rights and geopolitical conflicts.
The Russian delegation at COP29 includes key figures such as presidential climate envoy Ruslan Edelgeriev and Igor Shumakov, head of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring. The inclusion of representatives from various sectors like agriculture and finance underscores Russia’s commitment to addressing climate issues from a multidimensional perspective. The panel discussions scheduled for the conference cover a wide range of topics, including Russia’s role in global food security and sustainable development.
The voices of activists like Greta Thunberg and the presence of leaders like Zelensky add a layer of complexity to the conference, highlighting the interconnected nature of climate issues with human rights and geopolitical conflicts. While the focus of COP29 is on financing climate goals, the discussions are likely to veer into broader areas encompassing ethical and political considerations as well. The inclusion of diverse perspectives and the participation of representatives from nearly 200 countries suggest that COP29 will be a platform for both collaboration and debate on crucial global challenges.
