Author: Fuad Alakbarov

This year’s United Nations climate conference, COP29, proved to be a challenging journey. Climate negotiations are always complex, but introducing financial commitments makes them even more contentious. The central issue has been determining how much wealthy nations, historically responsible for a significant share of global fossil fuel emissions, should contribute to helping poorer, more vulnerable countries combat climate change. Delegates from around the globe worked into the early hours of Sunday after two intense weeks of talks filled with frustration. At several points, it seemed no agreement would be reached. Meanwhile, plenty unfolded on the sidelines, both openly and behind…

France has pulled their top negotiators from the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, intensifying divisions at a climate conference already disrupted by Donald Trump’s election. The French move came following a speech by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at the event, where he accused French President Emmanuel Macron’s “regime” of “brutally” killing citizens during recent protests in New Caledonia. Aliyev also referred to France’s Pacific island territories as “colonies,” pointing to nuclear tests conducted in French Polynesia and Algeria. Paris accused Azerbaijan of meddling in its internal affairs by escalating tensions in its overseas territories and dependencies, such as New Caledonia. Additionally,…