There is “general agreement” in Azerbaijan for Baku to host COP29 in 2020

Azerbaijan’s environment minister, Mukhtar Babayev, said on Saturday that there is a general agreement that the nation ought to host the COP29 U.N. climate meeting next year.

He addressed the COP28 conference in Dubai, “I’m delighted to announce that there is an overall consensus on Azerbaijan’s candidacy to host COP29.”

The nations in the Eastern European area, which is scheduled to hold the summit the following year, are at a standstill on who would host the next international conference addressing climate change.

Although Babayev hinted that they were on board, the organization did not formally acknowledge on Saturday that the nations that make up its membership had supported Baku’s candidacy.

“We’re very grateful to all countries in particular to the Eastern European group and the [COP28 summit] host United Arab Emirates for their support,” he said.

Discussions at the COP29 location have been suspended because Russia threatened to reject any proposal from a member of the European Union to host the event.

Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in sanctions from the EU. The EU does not include Azerbaijan.

Baku’s request, even if accepted by the regional group, would still need the official approval of the approximately 200 participating nations in the COP28 negotiations.