The COP hosting country has a crucial role in ensuring a warm welcome for all attendees. This has been exemplified in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where COP29 is currently taking place, Report informs, citing an article in Brazil's Valor newspaper.
According to the newspaper, with its population of around 2.5 million, Baku has pulled out all the stops to accommodate the 40,000 participants of COP29. Despite the language barrier, with few locals speaking English and the Azerbaijani language being unfamiliar to most visitors, the city's residents have gone above and beyond to assist and welcome the delegates with warmth, gestures, and kindness.
The Baku Stadium, the venue for the conference, is staffed by a large number of young volunteers who speak English and guide attendees with light batons reminiscent of the lightsabers from "Star Wars." Their ever-present smiles have made the participants feel right at home.
Baku's hotel infrastructure, with a capacity of 25,000 beds, was fully booked for the event. Eight elite hotels were reserved for the 80 heads of state and government who attended.
"They did their homework: hired consultants, assessed the scale of the task, and prepared quickly, knowing they had less than 12 months until the conference," said Manuel Montenegro, Brazil's ambassador to Azerbaijan, commenting on Azerbaijan's preparations for the climate conference.
According to the article, prior to the event, a campaign was conducted to raise awareness about the importance of COP within government institutions, motivating public servants and increasing public awareness. Although Baku has hosted major events like the European Games and the annual Formula 1 races, an event of this scale was unprecedented.
To ensure smooth transportation for delegates, journalists, environmentalists, indigenous representatives, students, and scientists, dedicated lanes were allocated on the city's avenues exclusively for COP transport, the author of the article says, noting that buses were imported, and an official event structure was organized.