Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev controversially claimed at the Baku climate summit that oil and gas reserves are a ‘gift from God’ and essential for the market. This statement contradicts last year’s commitment by nations to phase out fossil fuels. Environmentalists criticized Aliyev, who relies heavily on oil and gas for Azerbaijan’s economy, with over 90% of its export revenue coming from these resources. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it ‘absurd’ to continue depending on fossil fuels, while European leaders like UK’s Keir Starmer prioritized urgent climate action.