Cop29 CEO Caught on Film Consenting to Arrange Fossil Fuel Deals

The Cop29 climate summit in Azerbaijan is starting with controversy after a video surfaced showing its chief executive, Elnur Soltanov, apparently agreeing to facilitate fossil fuel deals. In undercover recordings, Soltanov, also Azerbaijan’s deputy energy minister, discussed potential oil and gas ventures with representatives of a fake fossil fuel company secretly set up by the campaign group Global Witness. The video has reignited calls from climate activists to ban fossil fuel companies and lobbyists from future Cop negotiations.

In the recorded exchanges, Soltanov openly discussed a “future that includes fossil fuels perhaps forever” and promised to introduce the fake investment group to executives at Azerbaijan’s national oil and gas company, Socar, for investment opportunities. He later stated, “I would be happy to create a contact between your team and their team [Socar] so that they can start discussions.” Shortly afterward, the group received an email from Socar, seemingly confirming the connection.

During the talks, Soltanov also referred to natural gas as a “transitional fuel” and noted, “We will have a certain amount of oil and natural gas being produced, perhaps forever.” This perspective is starkly at odds with recent climate agreements, including last year’s Cop28 commitments to move away from fossil fuels and the Paris Agreement’s goals to limit Global warming by reducing new oil and gas exploration.

Global Witness’s undercover investigation also exposed lenient sponsorship terms being offered to the fake fossil fuel company. Although Cop sponsors are usually required to commit to emission reductions and a “credible net-zero transition plan” within two years, these requirements were reportedly waived in this case. The fake group was also promised exclusive networking access with key figures in the energy sector at Cop29.

Global Witness responded to the revelations by calling for the UNFCCC, the United Nations body overseeing Cop conferences, to enforce stricter regulations. “The UNFCCC urgently needs to act to clean up the Cop climate talks, starting by banning the fossil fuel industry from sponsoring them, and kicking their lobbyists out for good,” a spokesperson for the group said.

The UNFCCC commented that their standards prioritize impartiality, particularly in light of the escalating climate crisis worldwide, emphasizing a need for “ambitious and concrete outcomes” at Cop29.

The summit opens in Baku today, with many now wondering whether Cop29 will advance its stated mission of climate action—or if the influence of fossil fuel interests will continue to stall progress.

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Related Content:

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• Azerbaijan to Ramp Up Fossil Gas Production Ahead of Cop29 Summit
• Climate Finance Set to Reach Hundreds of Billions at COP29, Says UN Negotiator

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