Oil & Gas

At the COP29 climate summit in Baku on Wednesday, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais made a controversial statement, calling crude oil and natural gas "a gift from God." His remarks came as part of his speech during the global warming discussions, where he emphasized the importance of focusing on reducing emissions rather than choosing specific energy sources.

Al Ghais argued that the focus of climate change talks, particularly the Paris Agreement, should be on reducing emissions across all sectors, not on selecting preferred energy sources. According to him, the global conversation on climate change needs to prioritize the practical steps needed to mitigate environmental impact, rather than disregarding fossil fuels that many countries still rely on for energy.

He further explained that crude oil and natural gas are crucial to global energy security and economic development, particularly for developing nations. The OPEC Secretary General’s comments sparked a lively debate, with some environmental advocates arguing that the world must transition away from fossil fuels to meet the climate goals set by the Paris Agreement.

While the debate over energy sources continues, Al Ghais reaffirmed that OPEC remains committed to supporting efforts that reduce emissions, but he underscored that these efforts should not come at the expense of energy security. His statement highlighted the ongoing tension between traditional energy producers and those advocating for a transition to renewable energy sources in the fight against global warming.