Remarkable words from Venezuela at COP31: We will not give up our right to develop our oil industry

At the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), hosted by Türkiye, held in Antalya, differences of opinion regarding the future of fossil fuels came to the fore.

In his speech at the summit on Thursday, Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced that they accept the importance of combating climate change, but that his country will not give up its right to develop oil production.

Rodriguez's statements differed from the COP31 agenda, which aims to accelerate countries' transition from fossil fuels to clean energy in order to reduce global carbon emissions.

Rodriguez stated that the oil sector plays an important role in Venezuela's economic development and argued that energy production and environmental protection can go together.

Emphasizing that Venezuela will continue to develop its oil industry, Rodriguez said, "We reaffirm our sovereign right to strengthen our energy and oil industry as the driving force of our national development."

Rodriguez stated that economic growth does not have to conflict with environmental protection and said, "It is possible to grow and protect the environment at the same time."

Arguing that Venezuela's forests act as a "lung" for the planet, Rodriguez claimed that the country's forests absorb more carbon than Venezuela emits.

However, Rodriguez did not make an assessment of the global carbon emissions resulting from the consumption of Venezuela's exported oil in other countries.

USA WANTS TO INCREASE VENEZUELA'S OIL PRODUCTION

The goal of Venezuela, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), to increase its production also coincides with the energy policies of the US administration.

The Washington administration is trying to ensure billions of dollars of investment to increase Venezuela's oil production capacity.

US President Donald Trump argues that investments in Venezuela's oil sector can strengthen US national security by increasing energy supplies in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump, who had previously rejected scientific findings on climate change, withdrew the USA from international climate cooperation processes last year.

Venezuela's attitude towards increasing oil production revealed policy differences with countries that advocate reducing fossil fuel use at the climate summit.

CALL FROM ENGLAND AGAINST FOSSIL FUELS

Contrary to Rodriguez's statements, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in his speech at COP31, said that the transition to clean energy should be accelerated to ensure energy security.

Drawing attention to the fluctuations in global energy markets caused by the US and Israel's war with Iran and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Burnham stated that dependence on fossil fuels makes countries economically fragile.

Burnham emphasized that foreign dependence on energy supply leads to price instability and said, "If we are dependent on energy that we cannot control, we will be open to prices that we cannot control."

Stating that the transition to clean energy is important for national security, Burnham said, "Transition to clean energy is the only way to achieve energy security."

OIL AND CLIMATE POLICIES ARE DISCUSSED AT COP31

At the COP31 Summit, attended by representatives from approximately 200 countries, new steps are being discussed to limit global temperature increases and accelerate the fight against climate change.

On the fifth day of the two-week conference, the issues of reducing the use of fossil fuels and increasing clean energy investments came to the fore.

The report published by the United Nations last month warned that the world is on track to exceed the 1.5 degree global warming limit set under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

While some countries at the summit defend oil and natural gas production in terms of economic development and energy security, others emphasize that moving away from fossil fuels is mandatory in the fight against the climate crisis.

Venezuela's insistence on increasing oil production has brought the differences between the countries' economic development goals and global climate policies back to the agenda.