Statements from the Azerbaijani president, carbon neutral countries asking to be recognized, funds for climate disasters… Here is what to remember from Cop29, this Tuesday, November 12, 2024, which takes place until Baku, Azerbaijan.
Oil and gas are a “gift from God”, repeats Azerbaijani president
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliev, repeated and assumed this Tuesday his expression of “ gift from God » to designate the hydrocarbons, which have made his country rich, reports theAFP.
“Quote me when I say it’s a gift from God. I want to repeat it here today, in front of this audience”Ilham Aliyev said at the opening of a summit of world leaders at Cop29. “ Any natural resource, oil, gas, wind, solar, gold, silver, copper: these are natural resources and countries should not be blamed for having them and providing them to the markets, because the markets need them..
As host country of Cop29, “we will also be fierce defenders of a green transition […] But at the same time we must be realistic”underlined the authoritarian leader.
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Without directly naming the United States, Ilham Aliev protested against “media fake news from the country which is the world's leading producer of gas and oil and produces 30 times more oil than Azerbaijan” and who we “qualify an oil state. They better look in the mirror.”.
To describe Azerbaijan as“Oil state”, “it is not fair and it demonstrates a lack of culture and political knowledge”defended the president, stressing that the country represents 0.7% of global oil production and 0.9% of gas production.
UK unveils ambitious targets
Represented in force at Cop29, the United Kingdom aspires to be at the forefront of climate diplomacy and unveiled this Tuesday ambitious objectives for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
Even before addressing other heads of state and government, British Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that his country was committed to reducing “at least 81%” its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to 1990. He also called on other countries to “present ambitious objectives”.
Read also: Cop29: CO2, temperatures, oceans… What do the latest studies say about the state of the climate?
“A global problem also requires global partnership and responsible international cooperation”insisted Keir Starmer, one of the rare G20 leaders to have traveled to Azerbaijan, at a press conference.
Coming to power in July, the new Labor government promised to put the climate “in the center” of its diplomacy, after the numerous criticisms of the lack of involvement at the global level of the previous conservative government.
Climate disaster fund ready to compensate first countries
The fund for climate disasters in the most vulnerable countries, created at Cop28, is now quasi-operational and is preparing to release its first funds in 2025, its officials announced, reportsAFP.
“The fund to respond to losses and damages is ready to disburse its funds”declared its executive director, the Senegalese Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, during a signing of protocols marking the official launch of the fund, during Cop29.
This fund has so far received some $722 million in pledges from rich countries (Germany, France, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, etc.), after the contribution of around $20 million announced this Tuesday by Sweden.
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But this amount “is far from enough to compensate for the harm inflicted on the most vulnerable”lamented UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
This figure corresponds “roughly the income of the ten highest paid football players in the world”but not even a quarter of the damage caused in Vietnam by Hurricane Yagi in September, he added.
Carbon neutral countries demand recognition
A group of the world's smallest countries, which say they absorb more carbon than they emit, have called for “recognition” of the international community during the COP29 negotiations this Tuesday.
Bhutan, Panama, Madagascar and Suriname rarely make headlines at the annual climate conference, lost among the rich nations and big emitters who monopolize the attention. By coming together to highlight their unusual status, they hope to change the situation.
“Our greatest request is recognition”said Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay in an interview with theAFP in Baku, where countries launched their “G-Zero Forum”.
“If you don't recognize a reality born of decades of sacrifice, why would any country seriously consider achieving carbon neutrality? »he asked.
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