Silence speaks louder: Where are COP29’s harshest critics now? Baku’s triumph exposes double standards

COP29 in Baku marked a historic milestone, showcasing Azerbaijan's ability to foster consensus even amidst complex geopolitical divides. Yet, the lead-up to the event was riddled with scepticism and a relentless wave of criticism aimed at undermining our nation’s capabilities. Doubters questioned whether Azerbaijan could rise to the occasion, but the results spoke for themselves. COP29 wasn’t just a success — it was a resounding triumph. The agreements reached were a pivotal step forward in the global fight against climate change.

But here’s the irony: where are those voices now?

Caliber.Az invites you to take a moment to compare COP29 to two other major environmental summits held around the same time. The 16th UN Conference on Biodiversity, held in Colombia from October 21 to November 1, 2024, ended in gridlock. Delegates left without resolving key issues like funding mechanisms and biodiversity commitments. Then came the South Korea summit on combating plastic pollution, held from November 24 to December 1. Despite the urgency of the crisis, participants failed to agree on basic principles such as capping plastic production and setting mandatory recycling standards.

Curiously, the same outlets that gleefully criticized Azerbaijan — BBC, Deutsche Welle, Politico, The Guardian, The New York Times, and others — are conspicuously silent about these failures. Where are the scathing headlines and think pieces dissecting the shortcomings of these conferences? The double standard couldn’t be more glaring, but truthfully, we didn’t expect anything different.

It seems COP29 didn’t just achieve its climate goals — it also exposed the selective narratives of its critics.

By Tamilla Hasanova