Beginning on February 27, 2023, Azerbaijan initiated inter-state arbitration against Armenia with a Notice of Arbitration under Articles 18 and 7 of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). The claim alleged that Armenia, in its nearly 30-year occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories, violated Azerbaijan’s sovereign rights over its energy resources through illegal exploitation and denial of access. The proceedings are administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. 

Azerbaijan specifically alleged that Armenia breached provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) by denying Azerbaijan access to its energy resources in the Garabagh region, exploiting energy resources for its own benefits, and preventing Azerbaijan from accessing the opportunity to further develop its energy infrastructure under its national energy policy and climate commitments. The Garabagh region was an especially critical area for hydroelectric power resources, as it contains 25% of Azerbaijan’s internal water resources. 

The proceedings are still ongoing, as Azerbaijan seeks reparations and accountability for Armenia’s interference in the development of clean energy infrastructure. In February 2025, the tribunal issued a decision granting Armenia’s request for Bifurcation, in an attempt to address Armenia's jurisdictional and admissibility objections. 

Republic of Azerbaijan v. Republic of Armenia

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Republic of Azerbaijan v. Republic of Armenia - Other

Filed

International

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

People who are less able to respond to the effects of climate change due to having limited financial or physical assets

Zoning and spatial planning are both methods for guiding the distribution of people and activities in a space, and are regulatory restriction.

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Actions or measures to adapt terrestrial systems to climate change.

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater systems to climate change.

Coastal zone and marine-related actions and measures to adapt and increase resilience to climate change

Actions or measures to adapt freshwater, coastal and marine systems to climate change.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

This sector involves the wholesale and retail selling of goods.

Climate change impacts our society by disrupting the natural, economic and social systems we depend on. Physical hazards and underlying vulnerabilities can lead to increased resource competition for food and water, which can heighten the risk of conflict.

Republic of Azerbaijan v. Republic of Armenia - Other

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance