Oil and gas are a "gift of god", Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev told the Cop29 climate conference yesterday. Speaking to delegates at the United Nations summit, held in the capital city of Baku, Mr Aliyev defended his nation's fossil fuel resources after some campaigners had criticised holding the event in Azerbaijan.
He added that “countries should not be blamed for having [oil and gas] and should not be blamed for bringing the resources to the market, because the market needs them”.
“As a president of Cop29 of course, we will be a strong advocate for green transition, and we are doing it. But at the same time, we must be realistic,” said Mr Aliyev, who has labelled his country’s oil and gas resources a “gift from god”. “Azerbaijan’s share in global gas emissions is only 0.1 per cent”, he told the conference.
The declaration stunned many at the summit, where global leaders, thousands of delegates and campaigners have assembled to push for a transition away from oil and gas.
Azerbaijan’s role as the host was already controversial. Before the start of the summit, recordings highlighted in a report by the BBC allegedly showed the chief executive of Azerbaijan’s Cop29 team, Elnur Soltanov, discussing “investment opportunities” in the state oil and gas company with a man posing as a potential investor.
Esta historia es de la edición November 13, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 13, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Trump picks far-right ally Gaetz for attorney general
Donald Trump has nominated Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general, the nation’s top law enforcement officer, overseeing an agency that could be used to target the president-elect’s rivals.
Circus is back in town as presidential rivals play nice
Calmness in the Oval Office belied the chaos just steps away as the world Ss press covered Tramp S White House return
'Entitled' chef berates those who do not 'order correctly'
A chef has served up a fiery restaurant row after hitting out at window diners” who only order tap water and share courses.
British Museum gets £1bn Chinese ceramics collection
The British Museum is to receive the highest-value gift in UK museum history as it acquires £1bn worth of Chinese ceramics. Trustees of the Sir Percival David Foundation are to donate 1,700 pieces to the London museum.
Southport triple murder suspect appears in court
A teenager has appeared in court accused of murdering three children in a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport.
Sisters forced to live with abusive father fled at night
Two girls, who were forced to live with their abusive father after being removed from their mother’s care, escaped in the middle of the night by smashing and jumping through a first-floor window.
'I have my freedom after so long stuck in the hospital'
He was trapped in medical units for a decade because of his autism but now Nicholas Thornton is finally free. He tells Rebecca Thomas how, for a period, the ordeal robbed him of his speech and why a brighter future awaits as he nears 30
Readers back campaign to return bible to Salisbury
Dozens of Independent readers have rallied to save an exquisite 13th-century bible crafted for Salisbury Cathedral nearly 700 years ago.
Timothy West, star of stage and screen, dies aged 90
Tributes have been paid to the veteran actor Timothy West, who has died aged 90, his family confirmed yesterday.
Will fans get a kick out of a Football Governance Bill?
Football is becoming a political football. Well, sort of, the irony being that the Labour government has adopted legislation on football regulation that was planned by the Conservatives before the general election was called and the final whistle blew on the Sunak administration (a record-breaking home loss, so to speak).