World · Latin America · 1 hr ago
Venezuela says it has the right to expand its oil industry
Venezuela's acting president defended expanding its oil industry at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey.
Delcy Rodriguez said the country has a sovereign right to develop oil while recognising the need to tackle climate change.
She argued that Venezuela can grow its oil industry and protect the environment, and said its forests absorb more carbon than the country emits.
She did not address the emissions from oil Venezuela exports.
Her position contrasts with calls at the conference to shift away from fossil fuels, while the United States is seeking investment to increase Venezuelan oil output.
Nearly 200 countries are trying to agree on stronger climate action during the two-week summit, which is now in its fifth day.
Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said the country has a sovereign right to develop its oil industry.
Speaking at the COP31 climate conference on November 12, 2026, Rodriguez said oil could support national development while the country protects the environment.
Her position contrasted with calls from other conference leaders to move faster from fossil fuels to clean energy.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said clean energy was the only route to energy security.
The conference was on its fifth day, with representatives from nearly 200 countries seeking agreement on climate action.
- Who
- Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said the country has a right to develop its oil industry. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also addressed the conference.
- What
- Rodriguez defended strengthening Venezuela’s oil industry, while Burnham backed a shift to clean energy.
- When
- November 12, 2026, the fifth day of the two-week COP31 conference.
- Where
- The COP31 climate conference on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.
- Why
- Rodriguez said the oil industry was a driver of national development and that growth could coexist with environmental protection. Burnham said dependence on energy supplies a country does not control exposes it to prices it cannot control.
Venezuela’s case for developing oil
Clean-energy transition
Oil development and national development
Venezuela’s case for developing oil
Rodriguez said strengthening the energy and oil industry would drive national development and that it was possible to grow while protecting the environment.
Clean-energy transition
Burnham said countries should switch from fossil fuels to clean energy to improve energy security.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the conference that energy supply disruptions showed the need to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez told COP31 that Venezuela had the sovereign right to develop its oil industry.
COP31 was on its fifth day, with representatives from nearly 200 countries seeking a deal to improve progress on climate change.
- Conference
- COP31
- Location
- Turkey’s Mediterranean coast
- Venezuelan official
- Acting President Delcy Rodriguez
- Date
- November 12, 2026
- Conference attendance
- Representatives from nearly 200 countries
- Warming limit
- 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit)
2 sources
What people are saying
We reaffirm our sovereign right to strengthen our energy and oil industry as a driver of our national development
The shift to clean energy is the only route to energy security