Azerbaijan: Crucial climate summit opens in Baku

Crucial climate summit opens in Azerbaijan

As the world increasingly revolves around climate issues, Azerbaijan is set to host COP29, an event that could well determine the future of our planet. Forget the discussions on sunny beaches or high-altitude summits, this time it is in Baku that heads of state and opinion leaders are gathering to try to give climate action a boost. But who really benefits, and who really makes the decisions?

A setting of contradiction

The first impression one gets upon arriving in Baku is of a city in full transformation, somewhere between flamboyant modernism and echoes of a tumultuous past. On the one hand, futuristic skyscrapers emerge, reflecting Azerbaijan’s ambitious development project, but on the other, signs of the ineffectiveness of past environmental promises are still felt. The question is simple: how to organize a climate summit in a country whose economy is still largely dependent on fossil fuels?

Climate issues at the heart of the debates

The COP29 discussions are already shaping up to be explosive. Each country presents its vision, but the divergences between developed and developing nations continue to pose a problem. The former, like a slightly overprotective big brother, want to impose their rules, while the latter must navigate between economic necessity and ecological awareness. The debates are typically set to be lively, with the promise of grand speeches, but with what reality behind these pompous words?

The truths we prefer to ignore

It is almost reassuring to see that political leaders are devoting themselves to the climate cause. However, behind the radiant smiles during selfies and the warm handshakes lies a sometimes darker reality, that of the powerful lobbies that are still pulling the strings in favor of fossil fuels. How can we hope for concrete results if economic interest always takes precedence over the ecological emergency? COP29 could well be a great showcase, but the hope of a real ecological transition on a global level seems once again out of reach.

In conclusion, as Baku welcomes the international community, it is essential to remain skeptical and vigilant. The fight for climate must not be transformed into a mere communication exercise. The real question is whether this COP29 will be the springboard for a sustainable future or just another summit where much talk and… nothing is done. Time is running out, and the planet is not waiting for leaders to agree.