The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has commenced in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. As the host nation, Azerbaijan is also looking to expand its fossil fuel production, positioning itself at the intersection of climate policy and energy expansion.

According to the Financial Times, Azerbaijan’s state oil and gas company SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic) is set to increase production of new fossil fuel sources during the COP29 summit. The summit, a key gathering on global climate change, underscores a paradox for Azerbaijan: pledging climate action while pursuing expanded oil and gas output.

A report by campaign group Global Witness, which analyzed data from independent consultancy Rystad Energy, estimates that 44% of SOCAR’s production will be new oil and gas by 2050—the second-highest proportion among national oil companies globally. This report examined production projections based on both developed and undeveloped fields as well as undiscovered fossil fuel reserves.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), new long-term oil and gas projects conflict with the goal of limiting the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—the target set by the Paris Agreement. This expansion aligns Azerbaijan with Europe’s aim to diversify energy sources, especially given the EU’s push to replace Russian gas following the Ukraine conflict.

Meanwhile, SOCAR has increased production in recent years as Europe seeks to replace Russian natural gas with resources from other nations, including Azerbaijan. This has drawn criticism, particularly as Azerbaijan—through Muhtar Babayev, COP29 President and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources—continues to call for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

At COP28 last year in Dubai, almost 200 nations committed to phasing out fossil fuels by mid-century. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan has signed multiple oil and gas deals since securing COP29 hosting rights, including SOCAR’s first international investment in upstream oil and gas—a $468 million stake in UAE gas projects.

“Azerbaijan is Europe’s strategic supplier of natural gas and is expanding capacity to meet European energy demands after the 2022 supply disruptions,” a COP29 spokesperson stated. Additionally, Azerbaijan is “expanding its renewable energy exports to serve the region and European markets,” he added. SOCAR did not respond to requests for comment.

Azerbaijan’s COP presidency has sparked criticism, echoing concerns raised during the UAE’s COP28 role. Richard Kinley, former executive secretary of the UN climate panel, expressed disappointment: “It is deeply disturbing that they can’t even seem to draw a ‘sanitary cordon’ around the COP presidency to prevent fossil fuel interests from undermining its purpose.”

Danish Climate Minister Lars Aagaard—attending COP29—remarked that Azerbaijan’s energy strategy also includes renewable energy initiatives, with Ørsted, a prominent wind energy company, present at the summit. However, European diplomats told the Financial Times that Azerbaijani officials have raised gas deal discussions alongside climate negotiations, mainly in relation to replacing Russian gas supplies transiting through Ukraine, with this contract ending soon.

According to Bloomberg, companies in Hungary and Slovakia are finalizing a deal with Azerbaijan to substitute gas from the Ukrainian pipeline. Energy analysts have cautioned that this agreement could mask continued Russian gas flows. Additionally, a recent report from Chatham House highlighted Azerbaijan’s strategy to secure long-term European gas supply agreements.

“By positioning itself at the heart of the multilateral climate process, the Azerbaijani government may seek to shape the global energy transition dialogue to ensure its oil and gas reserves remain profitable as long as possible,” the report suggests.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella’s recent visit to China marked an important milestone in Sino-Italian relations, with the Italian leader urging Chinese President Xi Jinping to leverage China’s influence to help end global conflicts, arguing that open markets are an “antidote to war.”

In an interview with the Chinese television station CGTN on Sunday, Mattarella spoke with He Yanke, host of the Leaders Talk program, and emphasized China’s potential role in promoting global peace.

Mattarella stated that he had encouraged Xi to help end ongoing conflicts, underscoring Beijing’s influence on the international stage.

“China is one of the key players in international relations,” Mattarella said, adding that during his three-day visit to Beijing, he hoped China would use its global position to uphold the principles of international law and peaceful coexistence.

In particular, Mattarella called for Beijing’s support in “ending Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity and taking the first steps toward a just peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

Encouraging Beijing to support a wwo-State solution in Palestine

The Italian President also addressed the Middle East crisis, decrying the “unacceptable wave of violence” devastating civilian populations.

“The war must stop immediately to find a solution to the enormous humanitarian crisis it is creating,” he said, expressing hope that China would “raise its voice to promote restraint and facilitate a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine among regional actors.”

On the economic front, Mattarella described open markets as “the antidote to war” and stated, “Every message promoting political, economic, and trade cooperation strengthens peace. Open markets and trade cooperation support social prosperity and are an alternative to conflict.”

Second high-level visit after Belt and Road withdrawal

Mattarella’s visit, which followed that of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in July, signaled a rebuilding of relations after recent tensions over Italy’s withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Mattarella reiterated the “exceptional” nature of Italy-China relations, noting that it was unusual for both an Italian president and prime minister to visit China in such a short time.

“This underscores the importance of Italy’s relations with China and the priority Italy places on developing these ties,” Mattarella said, describing the relationship as one of “friendship.”

Xi Jinping described the visit as a “new historical starting point.”

Xi warmly welcomed Mattarella, calling him “an old friend of the Chinese people and my good friend,” highlighting that their long-standing relationship, maintained through phone calls and letters, had fostered bilateral cooperation even in challenging times.

Xi called the visit a “new historic starting point” for Italy-China relations.

Their discussions also touched on China-EU tariffs and included a “non-ideological reflection on the need for a new world order” in response to rapid global changes.

“The world is undergoing great, intense, profound, and rapid changes,” Mattarella said, stressing that a “spirit of unity” is essential to confront these changes.

Ten cooperation agreements signed between Rome and Beijing

The visit concluded with the signing of ten cooperation agreements between Rome and Beijing, covering areas such as film production and competition regulations.

Speaking at a university in Beijing on Saturday, Mattarella also called on China to remove trade barriers for Italian products, noting that “China is Italy’s largest economic partner in Asia.”

During the conference, he emphasized the need for “a balanced relationship that includes the removal of barriers preventing high-quality Italian products from entering the Chinese market.”

The European Union (EU) is gearing up to initiate talks with the U.S. president-elect’s transition team in an effort to minimize political uncertainty following Donald Trump’s victory in Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the EU is preparing a “wish list” for these negotiations. Key priorities include securing continued U.S. financial support for Ukraine and avoiding high tariffs on European imports.

However, Brussels has reportedly been informed of a clear expectation from Trump’s team: EU support for stricter measures against China.

People familiar with these discussions indicated that the China-related demand was presented explicitly during preliminary talks with Republican officials prior to the election.

The European Commission has, in fact, been preparing for a Trump presidency for over a year. It has developed a series of retaliation plans, which include proposals to increase purchases of U.S. energy products to address the trade deficit and a tariff strategy targeting rates above 50% if negotiations stall.

Furthermore, Brussels is reportedly preparing for potential shifts in U.S. diplomatic policy, such as Trump’s possible shift of China’s diplomatic recognition from Beijing to Taipei.