France opts for the empty chair policy. The Minister of Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher announced, this Wednesday, November 13, that she would not go to COP29 in Baku after the “unacceptable” attacks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev “against France and Europe” .
“Direct attacks against our country, its institutions and its territories are unjustifiable,” denounced the minister before the Senate during the government question session, accusing Azerbaijan of exploiting “the fight against climate change for an agenda unworthy staff. “I will not go to Baku next week,” announced Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
In a speech at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev on Wednesday reiterated his attacks against France, citing the country’s colonial history and speaking of “crimes” of “the regime of President (Emmanuel) Macron” in its territories. overseas, including New Caledonia.
These attacks also constitute a “blatant violation of the code of conduct” of the United Nations framework convention on climate change, said Agnès Pannier-Runacher, in a heavy charge against the Azerbaijani leader. “The direct attacks against our country, its institutions and its territories are unjustifiable,” criticized Agnès Pannier-Runacher, “the comments made by Azerbaijan in favor of fossil fuels are also unacceptable.” “This is unworthy of a presidency of the COP,” she continued, adding that it is a “positive dynamic”, like the new commitments of their emissions made by Brazil and the Kingdom -United, “and not attacks of deplorable baseness which the international community needs to fight effectively against climate change”.
Growing tensions
Azerbaijan, whose relations with France are very tense due to French support for its historic enemy Armenia, has been accused by Paris of interference during recent riots in New Caledonia, allegations rejected by Baku.
President Emmanuel Macron is also absent in Baku, as are German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. However, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Spaniard Pedro Sánchez are expected at the leaders’ summit on November 12-13.
The main challenge of COP29 is to revise upwards the amount of annual climate aid from developed countries to developing countries, beyond the current $100 billion.