COP on The Steppe
COP on The Steppe
Montfort Eurasia's special edition newsletter covering Azerbaijan's COP in collaboration with Trend News Agency.
This November, Baku will host COP29, the world’s most influential conference on climate change, marking a historic moment for the country and the region. As the first event of its kind in Central Asia and the Caucasus, it will put the spotlight on Azerbaijan and the region in global climate and sustainability efforts.
Montfort Eurasia, the region’s leading communications agency with an unmatched local presence, in partnership with Azerbaijan’s leading news agency Trend, is proud to share with you our inaugural COP newsletter. We’ll deliver the latest updates, analysis, and perspectives from both local and global sources as COP unfolds. Stay ahead of the conversation with our expert coverage.
In this first edition, we share some insights from the polling we have conducted around the Caucasus and Central Asia on popular attitudes towards COP29 and the issues of climate change and sustainability more broadly.
Countdown to COP: Insights
COP29 in Baku promises to be a significant event: it’s the first COP in the region, with an oil-rich country convening the discussions on sustainability. Furthermore, countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, have made bold commitments. Azerbaijan has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% compared to 1990 levels by 2030, Uzbekistan has set up a designated Climate Council to develop a national strategy for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and Kazakhstan has made a commitment to reducing methane emissions by at least 30%.
In recent weeks, COP29, the "Finance COP," has faced difficulties as countries struggle to agree on a climate funding target for developing nations, with proposals ranging from $441 billion to over $1 trillion. Disputes persist over who should contribute, particularly regarding China. To enhance transparency, the COP29 Presidency launched the Baku Climate Global Transparency Platform (BTP) during a High-Level Dialogue in Baku. Countries including Egypt, Mexico, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have expressed support for COP29 in Baku.
Other Developments around COP29 last week
Azerbaijan supports increasing climate change funding, with 60 documents set to be adopted at COP29.
The UN pledged strong support for COP29, emphasizing a partnership with Azerbaijan to enhance climate action.
Azerbaijan signed a Host Country Agreement with the UNFCCC, marking a significant step in COP29 preparations.
The Commonwealth Secretariat and Azerbaijan signed a declaration to enhance climate action in vulnerable regions.
EU Commissioner outlined three main COP29 goals: transitioning from fossil fuels, securing climate finance, and launching an international carbon market.
A media workshop was organized by the COP29 Presidency to enhance communication on climate issues, with UN and corporate support.
Azerbaijan has launched a special e-visa portal for those visiting COP29.
COP29 Azerbaijan launched a food safety training program for local hotels in Baku to meet international standards.
Trends from COP
Our partners at Trend sat down with OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, who expressed strong support for Azerbaijan's collaborative approach toward COP29. He emphasized Azerbaijan’s crucial role in balancing energy security and emission reduction, while also addressing global energy demands. Al Ghais highlighted the importance of engaging all stakeholders, including oil-producing countries, in the discussions leading up to COP29.
For more details : OPEC fully supports Azerbaijan’s collaborative spirit for COP29 - Secretary General (Exclusive interview)
Polling on regional attitudes towards COP29
Montfort Eurasia recently conducted a comprehensive poll across the Caucasus and Central Asia to assess public awareness surrounding COP29 and broader sustainability issues. The survey targeteda representative sample of adults living in urban areas across Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, offering valuable insights into regional perspectives on climate action.
Our polling first aimed to understand how many people in the region are aware of COP and, more specifically, COP29.
The results revealed a stark reality: apart from Azerbaijan, where COP29 is set to take place, less than 50% of the population in other surveyed countries knew or had any idea of what COP is. This signals a concerning gap in communication and awareness across the region.
While Azerbaijan stands out as an understandable exception, with over half of its population familiar with the event, the widespread lack of knowledge in neighbouring countries underscores the urgent need for more effective outreach and education efforts in the region.
What We’re Reading
Actions will speak louder than words: Article by COP29 CEO, Elnur Soltanov, Chief Executive Director of COP29, AzerNews
With fewer than 100 days to COP29, what’s on the agenda?, Laia Barbarà and Ameya Hadap, World Economic Forum
How Climate Finance Fits into the Global Financial System, Valerie Laxton and Preety Bhandari, World Resources Institute
If you have any questions re contents of this newsletter or need advice or assistance at COP29, please don’t hesitate to contact us at eurasia@montfort.london, or our partners at Trend at news@trend.az.