Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev used his keynote speech at the COP29 climate summit to criticize Western nations for their stance on fossil fuels, accusing them of running a “well-orchestrated campaign of slander and blackmail” against Azerbaijan’s oil and gas industry. As nearly 200 nations gathered to discuss how to reduce fossil fuel emissions, Aliyev defended his country’s oil and gas resources, calling them a “gift from God,” while urging countries to be realistic about their energy needs. He pointed out the hypocrisy of Western nations, particularly the U.S. and the European Union, which, despite setting ambitious carbon-cutting targets, continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels.
Aliyev’s remarks underscored the deep divide within the global climate negotiations. The U.S. and the EU, despite advocating for greener energy, have been actively seeking new gas supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU has recently engaged in legal and political battles, including a landmark Dutch court ruling in favor of oil giant Shell, allowing the company to avoid aggressive emissions cuts.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking just after Aliyev, warned world leaders that time was running out to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius. He called for urgent climate finance to help prevent further climate disasters, urging wealthier nations to fulfill their financial commitments. As COP29 progresses, the call for a trillion-dollar annual investment in climate finance for developing countries remains at the heart of discussions, even as political tensions over fossil fuels continue to overshadow the summit’s primary goals.
