Most opposition parties ditch UN climate change conference in Azerbaijan, citing human rights concerns
Most of the opposition parties on Parliament Hill have decided to skip the high-profile annual United Nations conference on climate change this year due to human rights concerns in the host country of Azerbaijan. This decision comes little more than a year after the mass exodus of nearly 120,000 ethnic Armenians from their homes in the once-disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Green Party MP Mike Morrice expressed his disappointment in the choice of Azerbaijan as the host country for COP29, citing concerns about the country’s credibility as a major oil producer and the recent ethnic cleansing of Armenians. He called on the federal government to limit its participation in the conference and urged Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault to be the only elected official in attendance.
The NDP and the Bloc Québécois also announced that they will not be sending any representatives to the conference, citing significant human rights concerns in Azerbaijan. The Bloc’s climate-change critic, MP Kristina Michaud, explained that she would not be attending due to her pregnancy and her support for Armenia, expressing discomfort with the choice of host country.
Minister Steven Guilbeault’s office stated that no decision has been made yet regarding his attendance at the conference, but it is likely that he will be able to attend. Guilbeault has previously criticized Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel record and emphasized the importance of working together to combat climate change.
Last year, the Canadian Space Agency opted not to send representatives to an international conference hosted by Azerbaijan due to similar human rights concerns. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly condemned Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in the displacement of over 100,000 civilians, including 30,000 children.
The Armenian National Committee of Canada called on Canada to stand against the exploitation of global platforms by autocratic regimes like Azerbaijan. Despite the Armenian government’s support for Azerbaijan hosting COP29, many Canadian officials and advocacy groups have chosen to boycott the conference.
In conclusion, the decision to boycott COP29 in Azerbaijan reflects a strong stance against human rights violations and a commitment to ethical participation in international conferences. Canada must continue to prioritize human rights and environmental justice in all diplomatic engagements.
