The Greens’ delegation to COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan is concerned about the host country’s human rights record and its role as a major fossil fuel producer. MEPs attending the summit in Baku will be provided with disposable phones due to fears of hacking by foreign agents. Environmental concerns are also raised by the slow progress towards ending the fossil fuel era. The use of burner phones is a standard practice to mitigate security risks during international visits.
A former European Commissioner confirmed that delegations are typically issued with burner phones and laptops for official visits. The European Parliament’s services closely monitor security and cybersecurity but refrain from commenting further for security reasons. Despite the security risks, the choice of Azerbaijan as the host country for COP29 has faced criticism from the Greens due to alleged suppression of critical voices and the focus on image management rather than genuine dialogue.
Environmentalists and climate activists have expressed reservations about the presence of the fossil fuel industry at UN climate talks. The choice of host countries heavily reliant on fossil fuel exports, such as Azerbaijan, has been criticized for going against the goal of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Despite the lack of specific end dates and concerns about the term “unabated”, the agreement reached at COP28 in Dubai emphasized the need to accelerate efforts towards reducing coal power and tripling global renewable energy production by 2030.
The European Parliament’s delegation is not directly involved in the COP29 talks, but the European Commission’s team will represent the EU’s position. The focus of the upcoming summit is expected to be on financing, with the EU pushing for contributions from a wider range of countries to support poorer nations in dealing with climate change. The Azeri COP29 president-designate highlighted the importance of global cooperation in addressing climate change and potentially finalizing the establishment of a global system of carbon credits at the summit.
Questions remain about the level of ambition in terms of giving up coal, oil, and gas, as well as the establishment of concrete deadlines. The central debate at COP29 is likely to revolve around financing mechanisms to support climate action globally. The summit, scheduled to take place from November 11-22, will be a key opportunity for governments to address pressing climate issues and work towards a more sustainable future.
