At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev sparked controversy by defending his country’s reliance on oil and gas, calling them a 'gift from God' and accusing Western nations of hypocrisy for criticizing fossil fuel use while purchasing Azerbaijani resources. Despite calls for a green transition, Aliyev argued that fossil fuels are necessary for the market and should not be condemned. His remarks were countered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who criticized the continued reliance on fossil fuels as 'absurd' and advocated for a clean energy shift. The conference also highlighted the tension between climate goals and economic realities, with leaders like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasizing the need to balance green initiatives with industrial and agricultural demands. The event has drawn attention to the geopolitical complexities of energy dependence, especially with Europe's increased reliance on Azerbaijani gas following the Ukraine conflict.