A land of mystery

In the wake of the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan is hosting COP29—a petrostate with stark environmental scars and a renewed push for a “green future” in regions marked by recent violence. Through an exploration of Baku’s gleaming skyline, isolated Caucasus villages, and the autonomous territory of Nakhchivan, this story captures a nation reconciling its oil-dependent economy, conflict wounds, and sustainability goals in a world demanding change.
The capital's opulence and pollution epitomize Azerbaijan’s dependence on oil. As world leaders gather for COP29, Azerbaijan’s contradictory role as both a fossil-fuel exporter and a climate summit host becomes palpable.

The remote villages in the Caucasus mountains embody a different Azerbaijan. Here, communities have remained largely untouched by both the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Baku’s ambitions. Though semi-autonomous, Nakhchivan relies heavily on Baku for resources, navigating unique economic and environmental challenges within this dependency.