First COP in the EECCA Region: A First-Person Impression

Aliya Wedelich, CAN EECCA

 

The Opening Moment: A Thrill of Anticipation

On November 11, the UN Climate Summit, COP29, officially kicked off in Baku, marking the first time this globally significant annual event has been hosted in a post-Soviet country. For someone like me, a climate activist from Central Asia, this moment feels deeply personal and significant. The atmosphere is alive with anticipation, and it’s surreal to be part of it. At the beginning of this year, I interviewed a colleague about her experiences at COP28 in Dubai. Now, here I am—at a climate COP myself.

An estimated 66,800 delegates (fewer than at COP28 but more than at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh) are expected over the next two weeks. This brings a unique regional resonance to these critical talks, which are focused this year on one of the most essential issues: financing climate action.

 

 

 

The significance of COP29 being hosted in our region isn’t just geographical for me as a Central Asian; it represents a deeper, almost cultural connection. For the first time, our region has an opportunity that feels so accessible, allowing us to amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard.

Many delegates from the region are here at a climate COP for the first time as well, and this personal account may resonate with many of them. While this piece is almost solely focused on atmosphere and personal experience, over the next 11 days, CAN EECCA will be sharing negotiation updates relevant for the region and its civil society. This can be insightful not only for those from the EECCA region who were unable to attend but also for those here from regions that have traditionally been more present at climate negotiations.

 

Contrasts and Complexity: Why Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan, a nation known for its oil-dependent economy, may seem an unlikely choice for a climate summit focused on moving away from fossil fuels. Just two days ago, on the summit’s opening day, Greta Thunberg and other youth activists protested in Tbilisi, Georgia, questioning this very choice. Yet, Azerbaijan, as highlighted in a recent Christian Aid report, is the most vulnerable to the economic impacts of climate change among 10 countries in Southeast Europe.

 

 

“Azerbaijan faces the most severe economic impacts from climate change of all countries in the Eastern European region. It will suffer a hit to its GDP of around 8.5% by 2050 and 12.6% by 2070 if the world follows a trajectory in line with current NDC commitments, estimated to result in global temperature rise of 2.8C by the end of the century. In a scenario where the world limits this heating to 2C the economic hit in 2050 and 2070 will still be more than 6%..”

“Baking Baku: The economic impact of climate change on Eastern Europe”, Christian Aid, 2024

 

First Impressions: Navigating COP29, One Step at a Time

The issue of skyrocketing accommodation prices in Baku, which was triggered by COP29, led our CAN EECCA delegation to share rented apartments. Along with two colleagues—Olha Boiko, our network coordinator, and Anna Bohushenko, our advocacy lead—I’m heading to the conference by metro, then transferring to a shuttle. There are plenty of shuttles, all branded with COP29 symbols

The first day, intended as more of an orientation, is a busy one for our team. Our morning starts with picking up our badges—quick and smooth. The conference site is vast, with pavilions, meeting spaces, and coffee points sprawling across the Baku Olympic Stadium. Numerous volunteers are on hand, pointing the way for the many of us who are a bit lost in the crowd.

 

 

Inside, the air is warm and slightly stuffy, and the variety of style is as diverse as the delegates themselves—suits, traditional attire, casual looks. There’s no dress code, and each outfit seems to convey both individual identity and a collective mission.

Lugging our bags packed with laptops, documents, and the COP29 host’s gift—a reusable water bottle—we join the sea of delegates. Walking from one zone to another, we quickly realise the scale of it: 14 kilometres on foot that day, according to Olha’s step counter.

After meeting my communications family—fellow communicators from various nodes of the Climate Action Network—in person for the first time, I assist my colleague Nugzar Kokhreidze in preparing for a press conference.

CAN organises a daily press conference, and Nugzar, as the head of the board for CAN for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia (EECCA), is one of the speakers that day. As the communications coordinator for CAN EECCA, I scramble to finalise our statement and align on messaging. It is chaotic yet grounding—a mix of nerves and excitement to play a role in this vital advocacy.

 

 

“COP29 represents a gesture of trust from the international community towards Azerbaijan. We cautiously hope that Azerbaijan will, in turn, improve freedoms, enhance civic engagement, ensure the inclusive participation of all registered activists, and position itself as a hub for genuine green solutions.”

Nugzar Kokhreidze, Head of the CAN EECCA Board, at the CAN press conference on November 11

 

Olha Boiko’s mission here is particularly challenging. As a coordinator of CAN EECCA, a regional node uniting nearly 60 NGOs, she faces the complex task of accommodating the needs and plans of our member groups attending COP29—around 30 representatives this year! Our goal here is to advance our regional messages:

• Shift public funding from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to energy efficiency and renewables
• Boost the Global North funding to vulnerable countries in the form of grants
• Back up democratic processes and civil society to localize investments and enhance credibility

 

The Agenda Standoff: A Day of Waiting and Watching

At the plenary session scheduled for 11 am to adopt the COP29 agenda, I settle into my seat, waiting for Nugzar to speak on behalf of the entire CAN. But the session is repeatedly postponed due to ongoing debates over the agenda. Each time we think it would start, negotiations continue behind closed doors. The waiting is stretching for hours.

 

 

Finally, at 8 pm, it kicks off. Representatives of parties—in alphabetical order—deliver their speeches. Everything feels routine for such an event. As the evening wears on, the plenary hall begins to empty. By 9:00 pm, only half the seats are filled, and a cold draft from the air-conditioning reminds us of how long we’ve been here.

China’s intervention on behalf of the BASIC group (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) raises concerns about “unilateral trade measures”—hinting at the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM)—not being included in the COP29 negotiations. China, which views this issue as protectionism by developed countries, wants it added to the agenda, further delaying the session.

 

 

Finally, the plenary resumes and a consensus is reached: unilateral trade measures would not be part of the agenda but would be given space for consultation at COP29. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell’s words, delivered the next day, serves as a warning regarding such delays: “Letting this issue languish halfway down cabinet agendas is a recipe for disaster.” The struggle to agree on even a basic agenda felt like an apt metaphor for the climate crisis itself: everyone recognizes the urgency, but reaching a consensus is painstaking.

 

Building Bridges: The Power of CAN

COP29 is a whirlwind of overlapping meetings, discussions, and networking. The energy is intense but focused, like an orchestra tuning up for a performance. Being part of CAN International, with its 1,800+ member groups across 130 countries, is invaluable. From day one, CAN International has guided us, starting each morning with briefings and ending with recaps. CAN’s daily newsletter, ECO, provides an independent civil society perspective on the negotiations, helping us stay grounded in our mission. The first issue of this impactful update was released in the early hours, even before the first conference day began.

 

The Regional Scene: Pavilions and Representation

Our region has a notable pavilion presence this year, although some countries, like Belarus, Moldova, and Armenia, lack their own spaces. Armenia’s attendance remains uncertain due to complex political tensions. Just a couple of weeks before COP29, there was anticipation for a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, giving us hope that their delegates might stand side by side here.

 

 

The pavilions provide a unique platform for countries to share their climate stories and perspectives. This year, Central Asia is fully represented, with Kyrgyzstan having its own pavilion for the first time—a symbol that our region, long left behind, is finally catching up with the process.

So far, our countries have had more visibility in informal spaces like pavilions and side events rather than in the actual negotiations. For those official delegates reading this, I’d like to convey a message from many activists in our region: we need to see our representatives in the negotiation rooms, advocating for high-quality climate finance and a transition away from fossil fuels!

 

Takeaways and Hopes

The tense opening plenary reminded us of the complexities in climate negotiations, especially at a “finance COP,” where environmental and financial priorities often clash. While some parties may feel inclined to postpone and delay, civil society groups like CAN are here to hold leaders accountable, remind them of their promises, and push for meaningful action.

As the activist community of the EECCA region, we know that side events don’t equal negotiations. We expect our representatives to strive for real, tangible agreements here—ones that will be implemented nationally and ultimately reach the local levels across our region.

This is my first COP, and I’m inspired by the diversity and dedication of everyone addressing this urgent issue. While there’s much to worry about, I believe change is possible. COP29 may feel like organized chaos, but it’s chaos with purpose, and it feels good to be part of it.