Greta Thunberg to The Armenian Report: World’s Silence on Azerbaijani Aggression Due to Lack of Awareness

In a strong statement on global responsibility and environmental justice, climate activist Greta Thunberg attended a conference in Yerevan, Armenia, on Thursday. The event addressed Azerbaijan’s actions, particularly focusing on the country’s recent military aggression against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh and the impact on human rights and environmental protection. 

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The event took place as a response to the recent United Nations decision to allow Azerbaijan to host the COP29 climate summit, a decision that has sparked outrage among human rights advocates. Thunberg, known for her strong stance on climate change and her influence in the global environmental movement, spoke directly about the UN’s choice, which many view as incompatible with Azerbaijan’s record of aggression and its policy of discrimination against Armenians. 

During today’s conference, The Armenian Report’s Ani Khachatryan, asked Thunberg a pressing question. Khachatryan wanted to know why the international community has largely remained silent on what so may activists are calling “genocide” and the human rights abuses being committed by Azerbaijan against Armenians. She pointed out that, so far, COP29 participants have not acknowledged the crimes against Armenians or spoken about Azerbaijan’s actions. 

Thunberg, in her response, pointed to two major reasons for this silence: a lack of awareness and a general tendency of people to ignore issues that do not directly affect them. She noted, “There is both an extreme lack of awareness which leads many people to be silent, but also that people tend not to act on issues that don’t impact them directly.” Thunberg went on to express her concern over the broader implications of holding COP29 in a country with such a controversial record.

For activists like Thunberg, holding the conference in Azerbaijan raises numerous challenges, including concerns for the safety of attendees and the ability of civil society to apply meaningful pressure on the Azerbaijani government. “How can we expect civil society to put real pressure on both the Azerbaijani state and all world leaders when they are afraid of what they say or do?” she asked, emphasizing that the fear of punishment creates a stifling atmosphere for those who might otherwise speak out.

Thunberg criticized Azerbaijan’s authoritarian policies, including the suppression of dissent and Armenophobic rhetoric, and highlighted how this environment could undermine the integrity of COP29. “The Azerbaijani state is not being held accountable for the actions it should be,” she stated, arguing that the world leaders and delegates at COP29 would likely face pressure to avoid addressing these issues publicly. 

For Thunberg, the decision to host the climate conference in Azerbaijan represents a “slap in the face” to both environmental activists and those suffering the effects of Azerbaijan’s policies. This frustration led her to organize a protest in Tbilisi, Georgia, earlier this week, where she called on world leaders and organizations to reconsider the decision and advocate for stronger accountability.

Her participation in the Yerevan conference and her broader actions reflect a growing awareness among global activists about the intersection of climate change, human rights, and regional politics. By speaking out, Thunberg seeks to draw international attention to the plight of Armenians facing oppression and the global implications of ignoring such crises. Her efforts highlight the ongoing struggle to align environmental and human rights agendas, even as the world gathers to address the urgent challenge of climate change at COP29.