Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez told the COP31 climate summit on Thursday that her country has a sovereign right to develop its oil industry, even as it recognises the importance of combating climate change.

"We reaffirm our sovereign right to strengthen our energy and oil industry as a driver of our national development," Rodriguez told the summit in Antalya, Turkey. "It is possible to grow and protect the environment at the same time." She said Venezuela's forests acted as a lung for the planet, absorbing more carbon than the country emits, but did not address the impact of the oil Venezuela exports on global emissions.

A message at odds with the summit's aims

Her remarks jar with efforts by other leaders at the talks to convince governments to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. Thursday is the fifth day of the two-week COP31 conference, where representatives from nearly 200 countries are trying to agree a deal to improve progress in tackling climate change.

The comments also dovetail with American efforts to raise billions of dollars towards increasing oil output in Venezuela, an OPEC member. ExxonMobil signed a preliminary agreement with Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA on Monday to evaluate seven areas for possible energy projects.

'Venezuela Vive' plan announced

Rodriguez also used her speech to call for climate justice, international financing and technology transfer for developing countries, and to defend a fair energy transition that takes account of energy security and affordability. She announced a new Venezuela Vive plan to coordinate efforts to protect the country's forests, waters, oceans and biodiversity.

The summit continues until 20 November. Venezuela's stance underlines the tension at the heart of the talks: oil producers are asked to plan beyond fossil fuels while insisting their economies still depend on them.