Azerbaijan’s key official has hinted that it has to increase gas production due to its “commitments” to meet EU demand, as it prepares to open COP29 climate talks in Baku.

Chief negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev, in an exclusive interview with Sky News, tried to dispel the dark clouds that have accumulated over the critical UN talks that will start on Monday.

Fears spread that already shaky talks will struggle to make progress after climate skeptics are re-elected Donald TrumpA scandal around one of Mr. Rafiyev’s colleagues and the news that many EU leaders will not attend the Baku talks.

But Mr Rafiyev says he remains “optimistic” about the challenges facing COP29, including Mr Trump winning the US election.

Asked if the president-elect was bad news for climate action, he said: “I wouldn’t say that.” He added that he had met with his US counterparts since the election and that they remained “constructive”.

‘Everyone understood the importance of the issue’

Many EU leaders will also not take part in the climate talks in Baku to avoid political turmoil in their own countries.

Olaf Scholz The German government is in turmoilThe Dutch prime minister is grappling with football violence and European Union commission president Ursula von der Leyen is preparing for her second term.

COP29 comes, as the summit predicted, at a time when EU participation is more important than ever. Agree on a major new climate fund For developing countries, rich European countries are collectively the biggest donors.

“Of course, high-level political participation is important,” Mr. Rafiyev said. However, he emphasized that they will still be represented by their teams.

“Everyone understands the importance of making a deal,” he added.

‘Customer commitments’ responsible for gas production

Mr. Rafiyev also hinted that some of the same European countries keep Azerbaijan dependent on natural gas.

Asked whether his country’s plans to increase gas production by 30 percent were compatible with its climate leadership role, he said it was imperative due to “commitments to our customers” and the “geopolitical context around us”.

After the EU decided to divest from Russia’s fossil fuels in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. turned to gas-rich Azerbaijan to fill the gap.

However, scientists said that if the world limits warming to 1.5 degrees, as agreed in the Paris Agreement, no new fossil fuel projects can be implemented.

The planet is now rapidly approaching temperature of at least 2.6C above pre-industrial levels.

More about COP29:
Oil state claims ‘perfect’ for climate talks
Will other countries follow Trump’s energy policies?
The great fight for climate money

Azerbaijan defends its own climate plans

Azerbaijan, which was preparing to lead 200 countries through two weeks of difficult negotiations, saw its own climate documents scrutinized.

The country gets just 1.5 per cent of its energy from clean sources – but aims to reach 30 per cent – and its climate plan was awarded the lowest possible rating of “critically deficient” by the independent science project Climate Action Tracker.

Mr. Rafiyev countered criticism that Azerbaijan was not doing enough to host the COP.

“I respectfully disagree that this is inadequate,” he said, promising that a new climate plan would be released soon.

But it did not commit to issuing one during COP29.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Summit scandal downplayed

Mr. Rafiyev also broke the COP29 team’s silence on a scandal this week. The summit’s general manager, Elnur Soltanov, was caught on hidden cameras apparently using his role to tout gas deals as well as green projects.

“I will not comment on any media reports. We are here to discuss an important climate meeting,” he said.

So will this make his life in negotiations even more difficult? Mr. Rafiyev insisted.

“No,” he said. “We continue our negotiation process in the same way. I am meeting with everyone.”

As for the unresolved peace deal with Armenia, Mr Rafiyev, who is also deputy foreign minister, said it was “very close”.