Azerbaijan looks set to host next year's COP29 climate change summit after gaining support from other Eastern European countries, including at the COP28 summit in Dubai. The countries of the Eastern European region formally supported Baku's bid, unblocking the geopolitical deadlock for holding a global meeting on climate change issues. Although the decision on the host country still needs the official approval of all countries, delegates believe that this will be a formality.
This decision became possible after Russia refused to veto Baku's bid, which unblocked the process of choosing the venue for the summit. Azerbaijan has little time left to prepare for the mass event, but the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan is confident in the readiness of the country to host the summit, noting the availability of the necessary venues and facilities.
The decision on the location of the COP29 summit is usually announced several years in advance, and Baku now has the opportunity to determine the agenda and outcome of the global event. This year's UN climate summit in the UAE was the largest ever with more than 110,000 delegates.
