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COP29 chief executive filmed promoting fossil fuel deals

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the BBC or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Secret footage reveals Elnur Soltanov, COP29’s chief executive and Azerbaijan’s deputy energy minister, discussing potential oil and gas deals with a fake investor
Soltanov’s discussions focused on "investment opportunities" in Azerbaijan's state oil company, Socar, raising concerns about conflicts of interest at the upcoming UN climate summit in Baku

🔭 The context: COP conferences are meant to focus on reducing global fossil fuel use, not promoting new deals
This is the second year in a row the BBC has reported host countries allegedly using COP roles to facilitate fossil fuel agreements, with similar reports last year from COP28 in the UAE

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: These revelations highlight concerns about conflicts of interest undermining climate goals, as transitioning away from fossil fuels is critical to limiting global warming to 1.5°C
Hosting countries promoting fossil fuel deals during COP events could erode trust in the UN climate process and hinder global decarbonization

⏭️ What's next: As COP29 opens in Baku, the UN may face calls to enforce stricter guidelines on host countries to ensure impartiality
The controversy could also impact future host selections and transparency standards within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

💬 One quote: Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief, called Soltanov’s actions "contrary and egregious," describing the promotion of fossil fuel deals as "a betrayal" of the COP process.

📈 One stat: Oil and gas make up over 90% of Azerbaijan’s exports, highlighting the economic significance of fossil fuels in the host nation.

Click for more news covering the latest on oil & gas and ethical governance

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