At the UN’s COP29 climate conference, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev defended oil and gas as a “gift of god” and criticized what he described as “Western fake news” surrounding Azerbaijan’s emissions. He argued that countries should not be blamed for having fossil fuel reserves, announcing Azerbaijan’s plan to expand gas production by up to a third over the next decade.
Shortly after Aliyev’s statement, UN Secretary General António Guterres addressed the conference, calling the increased reliance on fossil fuels “absurd” and highlighting the unstoppable momentum of the “clean energy revolution.” He underscored the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, describing 2024 as a “masterclass in climate destruction.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer added to the discussion, pledging a new target of an 81% emissions reduction by 2035, urging other countries to adopt similar goals. Starmer emphasized the importance of leading the global transition to clean energy for economic competitiveness.
COP29’s host location in Azerbaijan has raised concerns among environmental observers due to the country’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Azerbaijan’s ecology minister, a former executive at the state-owned oil and gas company Socar, chairs the conference, fueling concerns that the event may be used to promote Azerbaijan’s fossil fuel investments.
President Aliyev defended Azerbaijan against accusations of greenwashing, claiming the country’s emissions account for only 0.1% of global totals. “Oil, gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper—all these are natural resources. Countries should not be blamed for having them,” he stated.
In a pointed critique of continued fossil fuel reliance, Guterres emphasized that wealthier nations bear the responsibility to finance climate efforts, with developing countries calling for a fund of up to $1 trillion to support climate resilience. Guterres warned that 2024 is set to be the warmest year on record, as climate disasters intensify.
Amid calls for increased climate finance, leaders from countries heavily impacted by climate change, including Burkina Faso and Spain, urged wealthier nations to provide financial support. Burkina Faso’s environment minister Roger Baro highlighted the severe drought, floods, and disease outbreaks afflicting the Sahel region, exacerbated by climate change.
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for urgent decarbonization and adaptation measures, noting recent deadly floods in Spain that experts attribute to climate change.
COP29, scheduled to conclude on November 22, faces pressure to reach agreements on climate finance and emissions targets. However, the complex issues on the agenda and competing national interests may complicate the negotiations.
