U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry criticized Tuesday the opposition against fossil fuels, saying countries should be able to use every type of energy resource at their disposal.
Speaking at the World Gas Conference held in Washington, D.C., Perry said there was still some strong opposition around the world against the use of fossil fuels.
"I wish I could tell you that the entire developed world is on board with our vision. I wish I could, but I cannot," he said, adding "In some quarters, at home and abroad, there is still this stubborn opposition to natural gas and other fossil fuels."
The U.S. surpassed Saudi Arabia in February to become the world's second biggest crude producer after Russia, and was the top global oil producer in 2017 for the fourth consecutive year.
It has also been a world leader in natural gas output since 2009, according to British Petroleum's (BP) Statistical Review of World Energy 2018 report.
Perry, who is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump's energy revolution to make his country a dominant player in the world, favors an "all-of-the-above" approach that visions the U.S. to use every energy resource -- from oil and gas to coal and renewables.
"The opposition exists even as fossil fuels become cleaner and low-emission natural gas increases its share of total fossil production and use. These opponents flatly reject the all-of-the-above strategy, the innovation-driven strategy that's helping us achieve energy security," Perry said.
"The answer is not to exclude oil and gas and coal from the world's energy mix. [...] We must honor the right of every nation to responsibly use every fuel at its disposal," he added.
While critics argue that use of fossil fuels is a major reason for global warming, Perry said in June 2017 that he did not believe CO2 emissions were the main driver behind climate change.
He also bashed global warming in 2011 by arguing that scientists were manipulating environmental data for financial gains and later proposed the elimination of the U.S. Department of Energy in 2012.
By Ovunc Kutlu in New York, and Gulbin Yildirim in Washington
Anadolu Agency