The stage is set for a new round of debates and negotiations on tackling the climate crisis – and the promise of host country Azerbaijan is for the process not succumbing to a fault-finding frenzy.
While Azerbaijan’s hosting of the COP29 climate diplomacy summit came as a last-minute decision in last year’s conclusion of COP28 in Dubai, Presidential Advisor Hikmet Hajiyev firmly stated that the country will be “demonstrating democratic and political courage toward green transition.”
Although COP29’s venue in the capital city of Baku is literally ringed by oil fields that have long fueled its economy, Azerbaijan has laid a firm foundation for change – primarily charting a course to achieve 30 percent renewables in its energy mix by 2030—a stepping stone toward its ambitious goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent through year 2040.
Hajiyev recognized Azerbaijan’s role as a fossil fuel exporter but emphasized that the nation's oil wealth has been a tool—not just for prosperity and progress for its people, but also as a bridge toward its greener future.
“Azerbaijan is a fossil fuel exporting country; but the fossil fuel potential of this country, it has been used for the welfare of the population and for the development of this country and it has also been used for our green transition,” he sa
Being the COP29 host, the Presidential advisor emphasized that “the priority from Azerbaijan’s side is we always try to lead by example; and Azerbaijan is completely against any kind of blame game.” Instead, he asserted that the COP29 process will favor “constructive cooperation” throughout the course of climate deal-making that will be unfolding from November 11-22 in the nation’s capital."
Anticipated as front and center at the negotiation table are the crucial next steps: defining how the landmark $700 million loss and damage (L&D) fund from last year’s Dubai summit will be deployed, alongside bolstering commitments to clean energy financing – goals to support cemented goals in COP28: to triple renewable energy investments, double improvements in energy efficiency, and accelerate the global transition away from fossil fuels, with a sharp focus on phasing down inefficient coal plants.
A key issue poised for resolution at COP29 is the definition of 'vulnerable countries'—a critical decision that will determine which nations can gain access to the pledged L&D fund.
Torn apart: The Philippines’ climate reality
The Philippines, repeatedly battered by fierce typhoons, devastating floods, death-dealing landslides and other natural disasters, is manifestly a ‘poster child’ of climate change, holding the highest vulnerability to the impacts of global warming, as revealed by recent data from the World Risk Index.
While Filipinos continue to demand ‘climate justice,’ the harsh reality is that the national discourse still fails to fully confront how the country can evolve into a true driver of solutions to the climate crisis.
The Philippines has a promising 'blueprint' for its energy transition, aiming for 35 percent renewables in its energy mix by 2030 and a bolder goal of 50 percent by 2040 – but the real challenge lies in turning these ambitious targets into tangible action.
A closer look at what's playing out on the ground reveals that fossil fuel plants will maintain their grip on the nation's power supply for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, it's all too common to hear government officials dismiss the country's greenhouse gas emissions as little more than a drop in the ocean compared to the industrialized world.
Despite the deregulation of the Philippine power sector for over two decades, supply shortages have remained a persistent predicament. Then as the country faces this challenge once again – primarily in the main economic center of Luzon grid, investors are quick to place their bets on coal plants, clinging to the fossilized belief that this is the only path toward achieving energy security.
To date, alarms are being raised on coal projects slipping through the cracks of the 2020 moratorium policy, while calls for clearer and firmer policies on coal plant retirements also grow louder.
Yet, the real question remains unanswered: for how long will the government allow coal plants/fossil fuels to dominate the energy mix? Even financial institutions are demanding for an unclouded definition of what some quarters are touting as a ‘transition coal’ investment model, highlighting the uncertainty of the country’s energy transition track.
It’s true that the country urgently needs quick fix to its looming power supply crisis, but we must also question where our conscience truly stands. What do we prioritize when the planet is burning—climate solutions or short-term corporate gains? And in this pivotal moment, are we willing to gamble on the future of humanity’s survival? As you answer that question, gaze into your children's eyes and genuinely feel the weight of your words!
Tidbit: In Baku, the host city of COP29, the Villa Petrolea houses the "Oil Club," a gathering place for the globe's top oil magnates and political leaders. Ironically, this very villa (now transformed into a museum) was once home to Alfred Nobel’s family, who first funded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
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