Climate activist Greta Thunberg announced she will not attend COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, calling the event a “greenwashing” exercise. Her criticism comes just as Donald Trump’s recent electoral victory casts doubt over the future of US climate action.
Writing in The Guardian, Thunberg argued that Azerbaijan, the host nation, lacks genuine commitment to climate goals, pointing to its ongoing plans to expand fossil fuel production. “Azerbaijan has no ambition to take climate action,” she said, highlighting the dominant role of state petrochemicals company Socar in the country’s oil and gas exports, which account for nearly 90% of its economy. “This is completely incompatible with the 1.5C limit and the goals of the Paris agreement on climate change.”
Thunberg also expressed concern about COP’s track record of hosting nations with authoritarian regimes, referencing previous hosts like the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. “COP meetings have allowed authoritarian regimes like Azerbaijan to continue violating human rights,” she said, describing Azerbaijan as a “repressive state” and citing the “human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan’s Aliyev regime” against ethnic Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. According to Thunberg, many COP attendees are “scared to criticise the Azerbaijan government.”
As COP29 begins, Trump’s win raises further concerns about US climate policy, with experts predicting setbacks in the country’s commitment to emissions reduction and support for renewable energy. Trump, a known climate skeptic, has called climate initiatives a “scam” and has shown consistent support for fossil fuels. Reports indicate his transition team is preparing to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement and lift restrictions on fossil fuel production, including revoking California’s waiver for stricter pollution controls.
Despite the popularity of green energy within the US, experts warn that Trump’s return to office could slow the transition to renewables and curb efforts to cut emissions. “Trump’s victory will be seen as a huge roadblock to progress in both cutting emissions and raising cash for developing countries,” one expert stated. While renewables remain widely supported, a Trump administration could prioritize drilling and mining expansions over sustainable energy growth.
This year’s COP29 location has already sparked debate, with critics questioning the suitability of Baku—an oil-dependent city famously described as having the air of a “huge petrol station.” Selected after Russia blocked Bulgaria’s bid to host, Azerbaijan’s economy and exports remain heavily tied to oil and gas, creating a potential conflict of interest in hosting climate talks.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently reported that 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record, with global temperatures now 1.54C above pre-industrial levels. As the COP presidency rotates, some experts argue that every country, including those dependent on fossil fuels, should have a seat at the climate table to promote meaningful action.
Thunberg’s absence and Trump’s impending policies are casting uncertainty over the COP29 climate agenda, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated global action amidst rising temperatures and shifting political landscapes.
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