Last month, an op-ed was written in the Los Angeles Times.

After Babayev was chosen, Mann wrote on X: “It seems like the @UNFCCC team didn’t really consider our suggestions seriously,” mentioning the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The decision of who will lead the talks falls on the host country, and it is common for the minister in charge of environmental or ecological affairs to be chosen as the designated president. However, it is uncommon for this person to have a background as a seasoned oil executive.

A potential reason for this could be attributed to Azerbaijan’s classification as a petrostate, where its economy heavily relies on the extraction and trade of fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, approximately 90% of the country’s export revenue and 60% of its government budget is supported by the production and sale of oil and gas.

After Egypt and the UAE, it is the third country to host the annual U.N. climate talks as an oil exporter.

Yalchin Rafiyev, the deputy foreign minister of Azerbaijan, will lead the negotiations starting in November.

Babayev’s chief of staff, Rashad Allahverdiyev, confirmed the appointments and said countries, observer groups and the U.N. climate secretariat had been notified of the selection.

According to his profile on the website of the ministry, Babayev, aged 56, holds a degree in political science from Moscow State University and another degree in foreign economic relations from Azerbaijan State University of Economics.

During his speech in Dubai, he announced that Azerbaijan’s goal is to decrease its carbon emissions by 35% by 2030 and 40% by 2050. Additionally, the country plans to increase its use of renewable energy to 30% of its overall energy mix within the next decade.

Babayev stated that as the effects of climate change become more apparent, it is important for us to come together and work towards global collaboration, while also making sure our actions reflect the seriousness of the issue.