In brief
At the ongoing COP29 climate conference, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that countries should not be vilified for exploiting their natural resources, asserting that oil and gas were a divine blessing. His statements were met with contrasting opinions from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned against the reckless escalation of fossil fuel usage.
The president denounced “Western fake news” regarding emissions and indicated plans for significant increases in gas production over the next decade. Despite international scrutiny over managing such resources amidst climate change concerns, Aliyev maintained that having fossil fuels should not incur blame, while Guterres issued urgent calls for immediate action to combat climate deterioration. The conference will continue until November 22, with looming challenges in addressing pertinent climate issues. President Aliyev's remarks came in the face of a backdrop of skepticism among global leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump, and increasing demands from developing nations for financial aid to tackle climate change effects. As COP29 progresses, the divide between fossil fuel expansion and the urgent call for sustainable energy solutions remains a contentious topic.
