Azerbaijan’s Authoritarian Government Suppresses Dissent: Human Rights Watch Urges COP29 Participants to Deliver a Clear Message to Baku

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan speaks on day two of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany

Governments participating in the 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) should fulfill their human rights obligations, Human Rights Watch said in a question-and-answer document released today. This includes transitioning away from fossil fuels in an equitable, time-bound, and rights-respecting manner. The conference will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024.

Governments preparing their national climate plans with emissions reductions targets in 2025 should ensure that they are consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Any plans for increased production of fossil fuels are inconsistent with this target, Human Rights Watch said.

“This is the third straight year that COP takes place in a repressive state that severely limits free speech and peaceful assembly,” said Myrto Tilianaki, senior environmental advocate at Human Rights Watch. “Governments attending COP29 in Azerbaijan need to be prepared to deliver a clear message that equitable and ambitious climate action needs the meaningful participation of independent voices.”

The Human Rights Watch reminded that Azerbaijan has an authoritarian government that does not tolerate dissent and in recent months has cracked down on independent journalists and civic activists. Those arbitrarily detained include an anti-corruption activist critical of Azerbaijan’s oil and gas sector and a human rights defender who co-founded an initiative that advocated for civic freedoms and environmental justice in Azerbaijan ahead of COP29.

The Azerbaijani government’s hostility toward independent activism raises concerns about whether civil society groups will be able to participate meaningfully at COP29 and the extent to which environmental activism will take place in Azerbaijan following the conference, Human Rights Watch said.  

Oil and gas revenues accounted for 52 percent of Azerbaijan’s state budget in 2022 and about 90 percent of its export revenue. During a high-level meeting in April to prepare for COP29, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced plans to expand gas production, mainly in response to European Union market demands, Human Rights Watch reminded. 

“Governments shouldn’t allow Azerbaijan to use its position as COP29 host to continue to push the expansion of fossil fuels and undermine efforts to confront the climate crisis and protect human rights,” Tilianaki said.