Azerbaijan’s environment minister appointed as COP29 president 

Azerbaijan has appointed Mukhtar Babayev, its environment minister, to be the president of the 29th session of the United Nations climate change conference happening in Baku, the country’s capital, in November.

The hosting of COP29 was zoned to Eastern Europe, countries from the region rallied behind Baku’s bid at COP28  in Dubai.

They  voted Azerbaijan as the host of COP29.

The COP28 presidency in a post on X said Babayev will chair the talks, while Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan’s deputy foreign minister, will be his lead negotiator.

The COP28 presidency also wished Babayev well, adding that it is committed to work closely with him to make COP29 a success. 

“We wish HE Mukhtar Babayev, President-Designate of COP29, and HE Yalchin Rafiyev, Lead Negotiator of COP29 every success in their roles as Azerbaijan hosts the Conference of the Parties this year,” the post reads. 

“We look forward to working alongside the COP29 and COP30 Presidencies, and the UNFCCC to build on the transformative and historic success of COP28 and keep 1.5°C within reach.”

Babayev had previously worked at the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) for 26 years.

He served as the firm’s vice-president on ecological affairs at some point, and tried to limit the company’s environmental damage.

In 2018, the 56 year old became Azerbaijan minister of ecology and natural resources. 

He will be the 24th, and the fourth man in a row – to chair the global climate conference compared to only five women.