In Naftalan, Azerbaijan, a city known for its unique oil baths, the juxtaposition of hosting the COP29 climate summit and celebrating a heritage of oil usage has sparked conversation. Participants at the climate conference grapple with the urgency of reducing fossil fuel reliance while locals tout the health benefits of Naftalan's medicinal oil, which has been used for centuries for therapeutic purposes.
Visitors to Naftalan flock to health resorts where they can immerse themselves in the chocolate-colored oil that, rather than igniting like conventional fuel, is said to offer healing properties. This practice of using oil for wellness comes from a rich tradition dating back more than a century and stands as a point of pride for many Azerbaijanis.
Despite the environmental challenges posed by oil extraction, the residents of Naftalan view the therapeutic oil as part of their identity and heritage. This oil, however, is on the brink of depletion, with reports suggesting that half of its recoverable deposits could vanish by 2022. The tension between maintaining cultural practices tied to oil and the pressing global call for a transition to sustainable energy remains a central theme as discussions continue at the COP29 summit in Baku.
The health tourism industry in Naftalan intertwines with this celebration of oil, drawing visitors from across former Soviet states to experience the purported benefits of oil baths firsthand, even as the world debates the future of fossil fuels.
