The host of the United Nations climate summit in Azerbaijan on Tuesday defended fossil fuels and the rights of countries to develop them as dozens of world leaders arrived for the COP29 meeting. [emphasis, links added]
More than 75 leaders are expected to attend, but leaders of the most polluting countries will skip key climate talks where the impact of Donald Trump's election victory is being absorbed.
A handful of leaders from rich G20 countries — Accounts for nearly 80% of global earth-heating emissions — Expect to stay in Baku for two days.
President Ilham Aliyev said in his opening remarks by his hosts Azerbaijan 'slandered and blackmailed' over fossil fuel use No country should be judged for its natural resources.
“Quote me I say it's a gift from GodI want to repeat it in front of the audience today,” Aliyev told the delegates.
“Oil, natural gas, wind, sun, gold, silver, copper, All… are natural resources, and the state should not be blamed for owning them, nor should it be blamed for bringing these resources to the market, because the market demands them.“
“People need them.”
Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz were among the G20 leaders who were absent from the event Uncertainty over future U.S. climate action cast a pall over Opening Day.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, one of the high-profile leaders attending the meeting, will unveil an “ambitious” update to the UK's climate targets later today. He said he wanted his country to “take a leadership role in addressing the climate challenge”.
Washington's top climate envoy John Podesta is seeking to reassure countries in Baku that: Trump's re-election will not end U.S. efforts on global warming, even if the issue will be “shelved.”
– “Tough police” –
A top priority at COP29 is a tough deal to increase funding for climate action in developing countries.
These countries – from low-lying islands to divided warring states – are least responsible for climate change but are most at risk from rising sea levels, extreme weather and economic shocks.
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