By bne IntelliNews French Ecology Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher has pulled out of the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, following remarks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accusing France of “colonialist crimes” in its Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev used his opening speech at COP29 to deliver a strong criticism of Western governments that purchase his country's gas while condemning its fossil fuel-dependent economy.

He addressed the ‘World Leaders Climate Action Summit on Tuesday and held a meeting with Azerbaijani counterpart Aliyev on Thursday.

Azerbaijan’s COP29 presidency press conference in Baku | REUTERS Azerbaijan's COP29 presidency holds a press conference in Baku. #COP29 #COP29Azerbaijan #Baku #Azerbaijan #pressconference #newsconference #climate #climatechange #live #Reuters #news Keep up with the latest news from around the world: ------------------------------------------------------ LiveTube | Latest

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev defended his country's oil and gas industry at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29), criticising Western nations for their stance on fossil fuels, reported Reuters.

Opening speeches rarely contain such frank and unsparing political attacks, nor such open fossil fuel defenses.

He singled out the US, the world’s largest historic carbon emitter, and the EU for particular criticism, accusing them of double standards.

Fossil fuels are a gift from God and giving them up is not realistic, the host of the Cop29 climate summit has said. Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, defended his country’s oil and gas industry during opening remarks at the conference in the country’s capital Baku on Tuesday.