In brief
At COP29 in Baku, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan praised fossil fuels as a "gift of god," while UN officials urged for urgent climate action and significant funding for developing nations.
In the face of rising climate concerns, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has made headlines at the ongoing COP29 climate conference by declaring that oil and gas are a "gift of god." He criticized what he termed "Western fake news" regarding Azerbaijan's emissions and claimed that no nation should be reproached for possessing and exporting natural resources. Aliyev pointed out that Azerbaijan plans to increase its gas production significantly within the next decade, which drew immediate criticism from global leaders at the conference. UN Secretary-General António Guterres responded strongly to the president's remarks by stating that an increased reliance on fossil fuels is "absurd" and underscored the necessity for a "clean energy revolution."Concerns were raised about the alignment of COP29's leadership with fossil fuel interests, particularly since Azerbaijan is a major player in the oil and gas industry due to its national company, Socar. Observers have speculated whether the conference could be leveraged to attract further investments into this sector.Aliyev claimed that Azerbaijan's contribution to global gas emissions is only 0.1%, arguing that resources such as oil and gas are essential for the market and that countries must not be blamed for their availability. However, he faced pushback from Guterres, who warned that efforts to ignore climate warnings could lead to a dire future, labeling the year 2024 as a "masterclass in climate destruction."As developed nations focus on reducing emissions, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer underscored the urgency for countries to enhance their climate targets significantly. Meanwhile, the United States under President Joe Biden is expected to confront the challenges posed by the incoming Trump administration, known for its climate skepticism.The impact of climate change was further highlighted by African leaders attending the conference, who stressed the need for $1 trillion in assistance to combat climate impacts, as they face severe weather-related disasters. COP29 concludes on November 22, but there are already concerns that unresolved issues could obstruct any final agreements.
