Elnur Soltanov, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Energy and CEO of COP29, has thrown down the gauntlet to critics of oil and gas production, Report informs.
Speaking at the 2nd Shusha Global Media, Soltanov declared, “Those who criticize oil and gas producers are welcome to voluntarily give up using these resources."
In his presentation titled “Solidarity for the Green World – COP29”, Soltanov emphasized that it's inappropriate to discriminate between oil and gas producing and consuming countries when discussing environmental pollution and climate change.
He staunchly defended Azerbaijan's position, stating, "Azerbaijan produces only 0.5% of the world's energy carriers, yet we contribute significantly to energy security."
Soltanov highlighted the hypocrisy in the global energy debate, reminding critics that "the achievements of modern civilization have been built on natural resources."
He called for a shift from criticism to finding common solutions.
The COP29 CEO also drew attention to the disproportionate impact of climate change, noting that "African countries contribute only 4% to atmospheric pollution, yet they suffer the most from climate change."