In brief
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev claims oil and gas are "gifts from God," amid rising tensions over climate action and fossil fuel reliance at COP29.
In a controversial statement at the UN climate conference COP29, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan described oil and gas as a "gift of God." He urged that nations with natural resources should not be criticized for exploiting them, amid accusations of "Western fake news" regarding Azerbaijan's emissions.During his address, Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan's contribution to global gas emissions is merely 0.1%, defending the nation's planned increase in gas production by one-third over the next decade. His remarks came shortly after UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the reliance on fossil fuels, labeling it as "absurd" and underscoring the urgency for a transition to cleaner energy.Concerns about Azerbaijan's stewardship of COP29 were raised, given the conference chair's background as a former oil executive, which led some to speculate that the event might be leveraged to promote investment in the Azerbaijani oil and gas sector.Amidst rising pressures for immediate climate action, Guterres reiterated that time is not on our side, warning that global temperature limits are in jeopardy. He stressed the need for wealthier nations to take responsibility for funding climate adaptation efforts in developing countries, advocating for a fund potentially amounting to $1 trillion.The political backdrop shifted further with Donald Trump's recent election victory adding strain to the climate dialogue, as he is known for his skeptical views on climate change. In response, U.S. envoy John Podesta reaffirmed the Biden administration's commitment to meet the climate goals established in previous conferences.The backdrop of COP29 has also seen discussions surrounding urgent climate crises such as widespread drought and severe flooding, exemplified by Spain's recent weather-related disasters. As countries like Burkina Faso emphasize the need for financial support to combat climate effects, the calls for action grow louder.As COP29 unfolds in Baku until November 22, the challenge remains to reach consensus on critical issues that could either avert or exacerbate the impending climate crisis. With major polluting nations largely absent, the path forward remains uncertain.
