Azerbaijan secures hosting rights for COP29 climate talks
Azerbaijan is likely to host next year's global climate summit, known as COP29, after Armenia agreed to withdraw its bid, ending a standstill between the two countries. This development means another oil-producing nation could host the important gathering on global warming. Azerbaijan's bid received support from Russia, and in exchange for backing Azerbaijan's hosting bid, Armenia will gain membership in the eastern European group's COP bureau. The two countries have been in conflict for decades over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. If confirmed as the host, Azerbaijan will face challenges in bringing nearly 200 nations together to address climate change and reduce fossil fuel production.