Azerbaijan finds itself in the global spotlight as the South Caucasus nation, rich in oil reserves, prepares to host the U.N.’s largest climate conference. Diplomats from around the world will converge on the capital city, Baku, for the annual COP29 summit to deliberate on solutions to the worsening climate crisis. This place holds unique significance, as Baku is where the world’s first oil fields were drilled in 1846. By 1899, Azerbaijan was globally recognized as a leader in oil production.