The United Nations revoked the accreditation of at least 20 Argentine attendees at the Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Those affected belong to NGOs, private companies, and other organizations.

The move appears to be a direct consequence of President Javier Milei’s decision to order Argentine government officials withdraw from the conference last Wednesday.

Most of those affected, however, were able to re-register to the event, activist Mercedes Pombo from the Jóvenes por el Clima (Youth for the Climate) NGO confirmed to the Herald.

“The accreditations issued for Argentine government members were also revoked for non-government officials,” Pombo said.

The accreditations were revoked because they were done via the Argentine foreign ministry — and, therefore, considered to be part of the country’s delegation. After the UN’s unexpected decision, the affected were able to sign up on their own accord. Jóvenes por el Clima was among those affected and re-registered directly before the UN with help from other organizations.

The attendees were notified of the suspension of their registration via email on Wednesday, two days before the end of the two-week conference. The message said that the decision was made after the Argentine embassy in Azerbaijan informed them of the withdrawal of the country’s delegation, according to media outlet La Nación.

Reports state that the reason behind Milei’s decision was that the COP29 aligns with the UN’s 2030 Agenda, which he has vehemently opposed in several occasions.

The UN COP29 is a multilateral summit where governments, businesses, and leaders from civil society negotiate new goals and solutions to combat the climate crisis. This year’s summit is known as the “finance COP” due to the primary focus being on establishing a new global climate finance target — the existing US$100 billion goal is due to expire in 2025 and opens potential financing opportunities as a result.

According to Herald sister publication Ámbito, at least three government representatives from the foreign and tourism ministries were given a “non-negotiable” order to suspend all activities and return to Argentina. The officials in question had not been allowed to participate in the summit debates during the two days prior.

Delegates sent by Argentine provinces were permitted to stay behind in Baku, but were also affected by the UN’s decision on Wednesday.

Over 70 NGOs dedicated to fight climate change and its consequences “categorically” rejected Milei’s decision in a statement released Tuesday. They called it a “historic setback in terms of climate and environmental policy” for Argentina.

The communiqué went on to add that this “not only breaks a long international tradition” of participating in climate negotiations, but also “marginalizes” Argentina.

“Withdrawing from climate negotiations will negatively impact the international image of our country, which could also have repercussions on productive activities and exports.”