Azerbaijan endured lots of criticism during COP29. Environmentalists accused the host nation of trying to use COP29 as a “greenwashing” exercise, while European officials condemned President Ilham Aliyev for making provocative statements during the gathering, accusing him of undermining efforts to contain global warming. The barrage of criticism obscures an important aspect of Azerbaijan’s environmental record. Aliyev’s government is not a recalcitrant actor when it comes to climate action, nor is it solely preoccupied with…
