Greta Thunberg in Armenia: The Intersection of Climate and Human Rights at COP29

By Emily Hanna

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg was at the American University of Armenia last week to speak on global leaders’ complacency with what she called “Azeri Crimes.” Thunberg explained why she didn't attend COP29 held in Baku. She addressed the intersection between climate justice and human rights in Azerbaijan and why a country that has been accused of war crimes, ethnic cleansings, and blockades should not be the country hosting an event as big as the United Nations Climate Change Conference. 

“We need to stop hosting climate conferences in places like Azerbaijan, a country that is repressing its own population to an extreme degree,” she noted in her closing remarks. 

While in Armenia, Thunberg attended a demonstration outside of the United Nations Office in Yerevan. She spoke to reporters along with other activists and people who either refused or were not allowed access to attend COP29. The protesters handed a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The demonstration attracted a large crowd which resulted in many people saying, “Thank you, Greta,” in junction with her decision to stand with Armenia and those displaced in Artsakh by Azerbaijan. In addition to her message to hold Azerbaijan accountable for their actions against Armenia and that there is no place for a climate conference when human rights violations have been committed on several different occasions.