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| COP29: Oil and gas 'gift of god', says host Azerbaijan president | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Azerbaijan's president said countries should not be blamed for having oil, gas and other natural resources or bringing them to the market. | Azerbaijan's president said countries should not be blamed for having oil, gas and other natural resources or bringing them to the market. |
| The president of COP29’s host country has told the UN climate conference that oil and gas are a "gift of God". | The president of COP29’s host country has told the UN climate conference that oil and gas are a "gift of God". |
| Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev criticised "Western fake news" about the country's emissions and said nations "should not be blamed" for having fossil fuel reserves. | Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev criticised "Western fake news" about the country's emissions and said nations "should not be blamed" for having fossil fuel reserves. |
| The country plans to expand gas production by up to a third over the next decade. | The country plans to expand gas production by up to a third over the next decade. |
| Shortly afterwards, UN chief António Guterres told the conference that doubling down on the use of fossil fuels was "absurd". | Shortly afterwards, UN chief António Guterres told the conference that doubling down on the use of fossil fuels was "absurd". |
| He said the "clean energy revolution" had arrived and that no government could stop it. | He said the "clean energy revolution" had arrived and that no government could stop it. |
| Separately, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged further reductions on emissions, saying the UK will now aim for an 81% decrease by 2035. The UK called for other countries to match the new target. | Separately, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged further reductions on emissions, saying the UK will now aim for an 81% decrease by 2035. The UK called for other countries to match the new target. |
| "Make no mistake, the race is on for the clean energy jobs of the future, the economy of tomorrow, and I don't want to be in the middle of the pack - I want to get ahead of the game," Sir Keir told the conference. | "Make no mistake, the race is on for the clean energy jobs of the future, the economy of tomorrow, and I don't want to be in the middle of the pack - I want to get ahead of the game," Sir Keir told the conference. |
| Some observers had expressed concerns about the world’s largest climate conference taking place in Azerbaijan. | Some observers had expressed concerns about the world’s largest climate conference taking place in Azerbaijan. |
| Its minister for ecology and natural resources - a former oil executive that spent 26 years at Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil and gas company Socar – is the conference's chairman. | Its minister for ecology and natural resources - a former oil executive that spent 26 years at Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil and gas company Socar – is the conference's chairman. |
| There are also concerns that Azerbaijani officials are using COP29 to boost investment in the country’s national oil and gas company. | There are also concerns that Azerbaijani officials are using COP29 to boost investment in the country’s national oil and gas company. |
| But addressing the conference on its second day, President Aliyev said Azerbaijan had been subject to "slander and blackmail" ahead of COP29. | But addressing the conference on its second day, President Aliyev said Azerbaijan had been subject to "slander and blackmail" ahead of COP29. |
| He said it had been as if "Western fake news media", charities and politicians were "competing in spreading disinformation... about our country". | He said it had been as if "Western fake news media", charities and politicians were "competing in spreading disinformation... about our country". |
| Aliyev said the country’s share in global gas emissions was "only 0.1%". | Aliyev said the country’s share in global gas emissions was "only 0.1%". |
| "Oil, gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper, all... are natural resources and countries should not be blamed for having them, and should not be blamed for bringing these resources to the market, because the market needs them." | "Oil, gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper, all... are natural resources and countries should not be blamed for having them, and should not be blamed for bringing these resources to the market, because the market needs them." |
| Oil and gas are a major cause of climate change because they release planet-warming greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide when burned for energy. | Oil and gas are a major cause of climate change because they release planet-warming greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide when burned for energy. |
| UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried “doubling down on fossil fuels” | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres decried “doubling down on fossil fuels” |
| The US is also under the spotlight at the conference, following the election victory of Donald Trump - a known climate sceptic. | The US is also under the spotlight at the conference, following the election victory of Donald Trump - a known climate sceptic. |
| On Monday, US President Joe Biden's envoy John Podesta called out president-elect Trump's view that climate change was a hoax and said the US team would continue to work on the deal passed at COP28 in 2023. | On Monday, US President Joe Biden's envoy John Podesta called out president-elect Trump's view that climate change was a hoax and said the US team would continue to work on the deal passed at COP28 in 2023. |
| He added that Washington was also working on a deal passed last year in Dubai to triple renewable power by 2030. | He added that Washington was also working on a deal passed last year in Dubai to triple renewable power by 2030. |
| Addressing the conference in Baku on Tuesday, UN Secretary General Guterres decried “doubling down on fossil fuels”. | Addressing the conference in Baku on Tuesday, UN Secretary General Guterres decried “doubling down on fossil fuels”. |
| "The sound you hear is the ticking clock," he said. | "The sound you hear is the ticking clock," he said. |
| "We are in the final countdown to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and time is not on our side." | "We are in the final countdown to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and time is not on our side." |
| He called 2024 a "masterclass in climate destruction" with disasters being "supercharged by human-made climate change". | He called 2024 a "masterclass in climate destruction" with disasters being "supercharged by human-made climate change". |
| The UN's World Meteorological Organization previously said that 2024 is on track to be the world's warmest year on record. | The UN's World Meteorological Organization previously said that 2024 is on track to be the world's warmest year on record. |
| Guterres said "a new finance goal" was needed, with wealthiest countries paying the most. | Guterres said "a new finance goal" was needed, with wealthiest countries paying the most. |
| "They are the largest emitters, with the greatest capacities and responsibilities," he said. | "They are the largest emitters, with the greatest capacities and responsibilities," he said. |
| "Developing countries must not leave Baku empty-handed." | "Developing countries must not leave Baku empty-handed." |
| The Azerbaijani president's comments are unlikely to derail talks behind the scenes, which are largely about getting more cash for poorer countries to help implement their climate plans. | The Azerbaijani president's comments are unlikely to derail talks behind the scenes, which are largely about getting more cash for poorer countries to help implement their climate plans. |
| Developing nations are calling for richer countries to agree together on a fund that could add up to $1 trillion, using public and private money. | Developing nations are calling for richer countries to agree together on a fund that could add up to $1 trillion, using public and private money. |
| Leaders of most of the world's biggest polluters were not present in Baku, including Biden, France’s leader Emmanuel Macron and India’s Narendra Modi. | Leaders of most of the world's biggest polluters were not present in Baku, including Biden, France’s leader Emmanuel Macron and India’s Narendra Modi. |
| This year set to be first to breach 1.5C global warming limit | This year set to be first to breach 1.5C global warming limit |
| COP29: Will rich nations promise more money for climate change? | COP29: Will rich nations promise more money for climate change? |
| What is the Paris climate agreement and why does 1.5C matter? | What is the Paris climate agreement and why does 1.5C matter? |
| The environment minister for Burkina Faso, a central African country among the poorest in the world, told the BBC that more cash was essential. | The environment minister for Burkina Faso, a central African country among the poorest in the world, told the BBC that more cash was essential. |
| Roger Baro said it would help his nation deal with the current impacts of climate change in the country, which is experiencing widespread drought, flash floods and disease outbreaks. | Roger Baro said it would help his nation deal with the current impacts of climate change in the country, which is experiencing widespread drought, flash floods and disease outbreaks. |
| The disasters occurred in the Sahel region, which saw temperatures of 45C this year in a heatwave that scientists said would have been impossible to reach without climate change. | The disasters occurred in the Sahel region, which saw temperatures of 45C this year in a heatwave that scientists said would have been impossible to reach without climate change. |
| Among other world leaders to take to the stage on Tuesday was Spain's prime minister, who called for "drastic measures" after floods killed more than 200 people in the country. | Among other world leaders to take to the stage on Tuesday was Spain's prime minister, who called for "drastic measures" after floods killed more than 200 people in the country. |
| Experts say that climate change contributed to the heavy rainfall that caused the floods. | Experts say that climate change contributed to the heavy rainfall that caused the floods. |
| "We need to undergo decarbonisation, adapt our towns and infrastructure," said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. | "We need to undergo decarbonisation, adapt our towns and infrastructure," said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. |
| COP29 is scheduled to last until 22 November, but there are already fears that the tricky issues on the table could make a final agreement very difficult. | COP29 is scheduled to last until 22 November, but there are already fears that the tricky issues on the table could make a final agreement very difficult. |