Azerbaijan is set to host next year’s COP29 Climate Change Summit, after winning backing from other Eastern European nations.

“We’re very grateful to all countries, in particular to the Eastern European group and the COP28 summit host, United Arab Emirates for their support,” Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister Mukhtar Babayev said in an address at COP28.

During the Bonn Climate Change meeting that was held in May, Azerbaijan and Armenia announced their interest in hosting COP29.

The Czech Republic also announced it was considering entering a bid to host the conference, and Bulgaria also expressed its desire, with President Rumen Radev presenting Bulgaria's candidacy to host in 2024.

However, the Eastern Europe Group had difficulties in identifying a potential host due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Bulgaria and Armenia dropped their bids to host COP29 leading to Azerbaijan being the sole host bid, in its capital Baku.

The COP28 summit in the UAE has been the biggest yet, with more than 100,000 delegates attending.