- A Global Witness undercover investigation reveals how the Azerbaijani petrostate used its position as host of COP29 to facilitate discussion of new fossil fuel deals at the annual UN climate conference.
As the CEO of COP29, responsible for making a success of the summit, Elnur Soltanov has been asked to meet with EC Capital by his partnerships team, who are hoping to finalise a lucrative sponsorship agreement. What Soltanov doesn’t know is that he’s actually meeting an undercover Global Witness investigator via video link.
In the meeting Soltanov says: “If there is something that oil and gas corporations can bring to the table in terms of tackling the climate crisis, they are welcome.”
The UN’s code of ethics for COP officials forbids the use of their roles “to seek private gain” and expects them to act “without self-interest.”
Related news: Video- COP29 chief exec filmed promoting fossil fuel deals | BBC News
In an apparent conflict of interest, acknowledging his two hats as COP29 CEO and Azerbaijan’s deputy energy minister, Soltanov offers to help facilitate discussions about investment in the country’s oil and gas sector.
He promises “to create a contact between yourself and [SOCAR] … so that they can start discussions.”
Similarly, he says that “COP is not about oil and gas … the purpose is solving the climate crisis” but also suggests that EC Capital “incorporate your activities with SOCAR’s activity during COP, so that you can … talk business to them and also participate in the COP29 process.”
He touts “gas fields that are to be developed,” Azerbaijan’s “pipeline infrastructure” and SOCAR’s trading arm that is “trading oil and gas, all over the world, including in Asia.” COP is open for business.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
Source: Global Witness
