Azerbaijan set to host UN climate change summit - COP29
Azerbaijan will host the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) annual climate summit 29 from 11 to 22 November in its capital Baku. Representatives of foreign governments, international businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and think tanks, among others, will converge on the city. An equally important precursor to COP29 will be Climate Action Week (CAW), which Baku will host from 30 September to 4 October.
Azerbaijan’s hosting of the climate summit has generated a considerable amount of controversy given the government’s lack of adoption of CO2 emissions reduction plans as well as strong emphasis on fossil fuel production. This leaves open the possibility of anti-government demonstrations by single issue activist groups during CAW and COP29.
President Ilham Aliyev maintains tight controls on the levers of power, allowing for relatively high political stability. Crime rates are comparatively low and public demonstrations are strongly discouraged. Local transportation in Baku is considerably better than in other cities throughout the country.
Though Baku is considered a relatively safe city, we thought it useful to provide visitors with some helpful information.
Azerbaijani is the official language. It is a Turkic language which has a high degree of mutual intelligibility with Turkish. Russian is also widely spoken in Baku. English is also spoken, but not as popular.
The official currency is the Manatas (AZN), with 1 USD = 1.70 AZN (as of 14 Aug 2024).
The major is religion is Shia Muslim, followed by Christianity. Respect local cultural norms and customs, such as avoiding public displays of affection and public intoxication.
Visa-free travel is available for certain foreign nationals from 30 to 90 days. Please check with the nearest Azerbaijan diplomatic mission for clarification.
Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) is approximately 20km northeast of Baku. There are several transportation options to the city, however, a credible meet-and-greet service is recommended, particularly for those unfamiliar with the local environment.
Beware of pick pocketers in tourist areas such as Fountain Square, Targova including the Passage, Malakan Square, the plaza next to the 28 May Metro station.
Baku has good medical facilities and provision of healthcare services are of a high standard at private hospitals. Emergency Services can be reached by dialing 112.
We would like every attendee to have a safe and secure visit to Baku for CAW and COP29, and we are here to support your travel risk management requirements and needs.
Contact us at support@nssg.global to learn how we can support you and your organisation at COP29.
#travelriskmanagement #nssg
PhD Student at IULM University | EARTHDAY.ORG | Supporting youth in climate change communication
1moExcited and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to making COP29 more accessible to youth and everyone interested!✨📢 Now more than ever, we need to foster participation and involvement in climate action and awareness💪🏻