OPEC Secretary-General Defends Fossil Fuels at COP29, Urges Emissions Focus Amid Growing Climate Concerns

OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al-Ghais made headlines at the COP29 climate summit on Wednesday by defending the continued use of crude oil and natural gas, calling them a "gift from God" and stating that conversations about global warming should concentrate on cutting emissions rather than selecting certain energy sources.

His remarks mirrored Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, who described fossil fuels as gifts during his opening summit speech.

Oil and Gas: A Blessing, Not a Curse

Al-Ghais emphasized the essential role of oil and gas in the global economy, particularly in food production, medical research, and manufacturing. He argued that fossil fuels are essential in ensuring human progress.

He stated, "They impact how we produce and package and transport food and how we undertake medical research, manufacture and distribute medical supplies. I could go on forever."

He underlined that giving up fossil fuels is unnecessary to meet the Paris Agreement's climate goals, which call for keeping warming to 1.5°C. Rather, he emphasized how critical it is to cut emissions from these energy sources. "The focus of the Paris Agreement is reducing emissions, not choosing energy sources," he said, supporting OPEC’s view on carbon capture technologies.

Multilateral Banks Praise Egypt’s NWFE Program for Advancing Water, Food, and Energy Solutions at COP29

Carbon Capture and Gas

Similarly, Mohamed Hamel, Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), supported using natural gas. According to Hamel, the demand for natural gas will rise with the world's population and living standards.

He emphasized that funding natural gas projects, particularly those that use cleaner technology like carbon capture and storage, should be COP29's top priority.

“The outcome of COP 29 should facilitate financing for natural gas projects and scaling up cleaner technologies such as carbon capture, utilization and storage,” Hamel said. He emphasized a fair, inclusive energy transition, ensuring no country or community is left behind in moving from coal.

Australia Commits $50 Million to Global Loss and Damage Fund at COP29

The Reality of Climate Change

Despite the optimism expressed by fossil fuel advocates, climate scientists have issued a dire warning. According to the 2024 UN Emissions Gap report, the world is on track for a temperature rise of up to 3.1°C by the end of the century, far exceeding the 1.5°C. Many predict that catastrophic climate impacts will occur by the early 2030s, and scientists warn that exceeding the 1.5°C barrier could cause them.