“Don’t call us a petrostate,” said Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, as he opened the UN climate action summit Cop29 in his country's capital, Baku.
In a combative speech, Mr Aliyev sought to hit back at western criticism of his nation's hosting of the event, saying that oil and gas are a “gift from God” needed by the global market.
“As President of Cop29, of course, we will be a strong advocate for green transition and we are doing it,” he said. “But at the same time, we must be realistic.”
That call for realism may ring true at a summit that some key leaders are not attending – though there is a growing clamour for action and demands that decision-makers do not leave Baku in 10 days' with little progress made.
This is a story of avoidable injustice. The rich cause the problem, the poor pay the highest price
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
Mr Aliyev said his country contributes just 0.7 per cent to global oil production and 0.1 per cent of emissions. It is expected to sign a deal with BP at the event to begin work on decarbonising some of its oilfields and gasfields.
The leaders summit plays a pivotal role in the two-week climate negotiations, with new national climate plans set to be sealed in the coming days.
President Sheikh Mohamed is among high-profile leaders attending the Baku summit, after the UAE hosted Cop28 almost a year ago.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is one of only two G7 leaders attending the talks, along with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. Among those missing are French President Emmanuel Macron and Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
China is sending Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang to represent its President Xi Jinping.
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, welcomed world leaders with a stark warning that rich nations who generate most planet-heating emissions must lead the transition – and help poorer nations along the way.
“We need countries’ new climate action plans to set out adaptation financing needs,” he said.
Mr Guterres said the gap between adaptation needs and finance could reach up to $359 billion a year by 2030.
“These missing dollars are not abstractions on a balance sheet: they are lives taken, harvests lost, and development denied. Now more than ever finance promises must be kept,” he said.
Nationally determined contributions are each country's climate action plans under the Paris Agreement adopted at Cop21 in 2015. These detail how a country intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and outline strategies for adapting to the effects of climate change.
UN climate change executive secretary Simon Stiell says the quality of the NDCs is critical.
Cop29 has been dubbed the finance Cop because success is pinned to the sealing of a new financial deal to tackle climate change for developing countries. Mr Guterres has urged developed countries to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year by 2025.
“At this Cop, you must agree to rules for fair, effective carbon markets that support that fight; markets that respect the rights of local communities and leave no space for greenwashing or land-grabbing. By next Cop, you must deliver new economy-wide national climate action plans.” said Mr Guterres.
Mr Stiell has called the climate crisis an economy killer. According to a 2024 report by the US-based National Bureau of Economic Research non-profit organisation, climate change shaves off 12 per cent from global gross domestic product for every 1°C of temperature rises.
“Unless all countries can slash emissions deeply – every country and every household will be hammered harder than they already are. We will be living in a permanent inflationary nightmare,” he said.
Bolder climate actions are a recipe for stronger economies, more jobs and equality, less pollution, better health, and greater energy security, said Mr Stiell.
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
RESULTS
6pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $40,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alajaj, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
6.35pm: Race of Future – Handicap (TB) $80,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Global Storm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Azure Coast, Antonio Fresu, Pavel Vashchenko
7.45pm: Business Bay Challenge – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Storm Damage, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
20.20pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed (TB) $100,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Appreciated, Fernando Jara, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Singspiel Stakes – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O'Meara
9.30pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Meraas, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
'Midnights'
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
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Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
Oppenheimer
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