Venezuela Defends Oil Expansion at COP31 Climate Summit

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela asserted at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, that Venezuela possesses the sovereign right to develop its oil industry to drive national development. Rodriguez argued that the country's forests absorb more carbon than it emits, though she did not address the global emissions impact of its oil exports.

This position aligns with the goals of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has advocated for increasing energy supplies in the Western Hemisphere to bolster national security.

In contrast, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham used the summit to advocate for a transition to clean energy. Burnham cited energy supply disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and Russia's war with Ukraine as evidence that dependence on fossil fuels creates economic vulnerability.