At the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev declared oil and gas as a 'gift of God,' arguing against blaming nations for possessing and utilizing such resources.

His remarks came amidst criticism from the international community over Azerbaijan's planned increase in gas production by a third over the next decade.

This stance contrasts with the calls from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other leaders for a transition towards clean energy.

Guterres described continued reliance on fossil fuels as 'absurd' and emphasized the urgency to limit global warming.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced ambitious emissions reduction targets for the UK and encouraged other nations to follow suit.

Amidst these discussions, concerns surface regarding Azerbaijan using COP29 to attract investment in its state-owned oil and gas company.

Concurrently, developing nations, like Burkina Faso, are pressing for increased financial aid from wealthier countries to combat climate effects such as droughts and floods.

The complex negotiations continue, with many world leaders absent, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron of France.

The conference runs until November 22, with hopes for significant agreements despite challenging discussions ahead.