The Irony of Climate Diplomacy: Baku's U.N. Summit Amid Oil Heritage

In a revealing interview, author Lydia Kiesling discusses her novel "Mobility" set in Baku, illustrating the complexities of political and environmental challenges during the Trump administration.

The setting of this year’s United Nations climate change summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, symbolically underscores a dramatic irony. Baku, known as the birthplace of the modern oil industry, is hosting the conference in a climate marked by the recent U.S. election of Donald J. Trump, who has vowed to amplify fossil fuel production and withdraw from global climate commitments.

Lydia Kiesling’s novel "Mobility," released in 2023, encapsulates the incongruity of this scenario perfectly. The narrative follows Bunny Glenn, a woman shaped by her background in the U.S. State Department during the 1990s, traversing her way through the chaotic landscape influenced by a booming oil economy. Bunny’s story unfolds within the contradictions of the Trump era, as she takes on a role as a communications strategist for BP while grappling with the alarming effects of climate change.

In a recent discussion, Kiesling outlined her motivations for placing Baku at the center of her narrative. Drawing from her experiences living in the Caucasus due to her father's Foreign Service role, she noted the stark contrasts between the fortunes of Armenia, which faced significant poverty, and Baku, which attracted foreign mercenaries and capital due to its extensive natural resources.

This juxtaposition of wealth and environmental degradation serves as a backdrop for the conversations happening in Baku during the climate summit, emphasizing the need for global engagement in climate issues, especially from fossil fuel-rich countries. Kiesling’s insights spotlight the complexity of climate diplomacy and the often contradictory nature of its political landscape.