Azerbaijan to Host COP29 Next Year

Azerbaijan will host the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) after receiving the support of other Eastern European countries during the COP28 summit currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Azerbaijani Environment Minister Mukhtar Babayev said: "We are very grateful to all countries, especially the Eastern European Group and the host country of COP28, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for their support."

Azerbaijan's bid still needs the formal approval of the nearly 200 countries participating in the COP28 talks. Delegations indicated today that they expect the vote to be a formality.

The decision on the next host country was made after Russia said it would use its veto power against any bid from a European Union country to host the event, as it has imposed sanctions on Moscow over its war with Ukraine. Azerbaijan is not a member of the bloc.

COP29 is expected to focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.