In a recent meeting with reporters, Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, highlighted the country's gas reserves after successfully securing the bid to host the United Nations climate talks in Baku next year. Azerbaijan, a gas-exporting nation, sees gas as a cleaner energy source, emphasizing its substantial potential in the global energy transition.
According to the 2021 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, Azerbaijan boasts an estimated 2.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gas reserves. While natural gas emits fewer global warming emissions compared to coal or oil, concerns remain as it falls short of the environmental benefits provided by green energy sources.
Climate scientists have warned against the rising production of natural gas, considering it a significant contributor to climate change and a potential obstacle to achieving the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
The decision to host COP29 in Baku, following the COP28 talks in the UAE, marks a diplomatic breakthrough, with nearly 200 countries, including Armenia, approving Azerbaijan's bid. Hajiyev expressed optimism about building a coalition between climate action and the peace agenda, given recent progress in the region.
Despite criticisms from climate campaigners regarding hosting the U.N. climate talks in another oil-producing nation, Hajiyev defended the choice, asserting that oil-exporting nations should lead by example. He described hosting the summit as complementary rather than paradoxical, emphasizing a transitional approach to moving away from fossil fuels.
Acknowledging the need for a realistic and broader vision regarding fossil fuels, Hajiyev noted that Azerbaijan, as a member of OPEC+, supports a gradual shift rather than an immediate phase-out. He highlighted the country's commitment to green energy, with investments in wind and solar projects, along with plans to transfer green energy from Caspian Sea wind farms to Europe via an electric cable under the Black Sea.
The adviser also underscored Azerbaijan's continued reliance on fossil fuels beyond energy demand, citing their use in plastics—a topic currently under negotiation for an international treaty aimed at curtailing their use.
