By Ambreen Ali
The environmental conference is ongoing in Azerbaijan’s capital. This conference, which began on November 11, has invited almost 200 countries, and about 197 countries are participating. COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is one of the most important global meetings on climate change, where representatives from 197 countries come together to discuss and address issues related to pollution and environmental heat.
When I visited Baku for the COP conference, I saw that Azerbaijan had done a lot of work for the event. Azerbaijan’s selection for COP is ideal because the city is very beautiful, with numerous attractions for conference attendees to enjoy in addition to the conference itself. For example, Nizami Street, which offers many shopping and dining outlets. Baku has also displayed COP29 slogans on its streets, and even on many metro buses. Interestingly, no fare is being charged for metro bus rides for conference attendees. People can easily reach the conference, and if they visit any recreational spots, they don’t have to pay for tickets. Attendees can use the metro to reach the conference, with dedicated lines for those going to COP. Security checks are done after attendees swipe their COP card, ensuring smooth clearance. The metro then takes them to the Koroglu Station, where a bus transports them to the Olympic Stadium, and the process continues in a similar fashion.
Upon entering the stadium, everyone goes through security checks before entering. Once inside, countries have set up their pavilions, showcasing their agendas with various banners, slides, and slogans. Most countries are highlighting the severe impacts of climate change on their regions, stressing the urgent need to address these issues. All the pavilions also have food and drink arrangements within their designated zones. It is clear that Azerbaijan has made significant efforts to ensure the success of this conference. However, during the first week of the environmental conference, the visible progress on carbon markets has hidden many fundamental and technical issues that remain unresolved.
Throughout Baku, volunteers dressed in green shirts have been prepared to guide conference attendees. Since only about 5% of the population in Azerbaijan understands English, and most people speak Azerbaijani, volunteers who speak English were selected to provide guidance to foreigners.
Many people question why Baku was chosen to host the climate conference, as the city doesn’t have much greenery. The culture of large buildings has transformed Baku into a concrete jungle. However, Baku is fortunate that its air remains clean and the weather pleasant, with the cold season officially beginning. The cool winds from the Caspian Sea blow throughout the day. But if Azerbaijan wants to preserve the beauty of Baku, it will need to halt further construction and focus on afforestation.
