OPEC backs Azerbaijan's hosting COP29, secretary general says

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fully supports Azerbaijan and welcomes the COP29 Climate Change Conference to be held in Baku in November.

This is stated in the message of the OPEC Secretariat following a meeting on May 22 of Secretary General of the oil cartel Haitham al-Ghais with the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, COP29 President-designate Mukhtar Babayev in Vienna, Report informs.

"A high-level dialogue in preparation for COP29 was held today under the chairmanship of Haitham al-Ghais and Mukhtar Babayev at OPEC Headquarters in Vienna. The OPEC secretary general stressed that relations between the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Azerbaijan are experiencing a 'golden era' and noted that the strength of these ties is evident through the ongoing cooperation within the framework of the Declaration of Cooperation and the [OPEC+] Charter of Cooperation," the statement said.

The OPEC chief also praised Azerbaijan's adoption of an inclusive approach to COP29, which ensures that all views, including the position of oil industry players, are heard, noting that "this constructive approach is in harmony with the views of OPEC and its member countries".

He also expressed OPEC's full support to Azerbaijan and COP29 in the coming months and wished them success.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29) will be held in the Azerbaijani capital Baku in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11, 2023. Baku will host about 70,000-80,000 foreign guests during the event.