Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister rejects fossil fuel phase down at COP28 climate talks
During the ongoing COP28 climate talks in Dubai, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, made it clear that the country will not agree to a phase down of fossil fuels. This stance could lead to difficult negotiations, as a draft agreement on climate action initially included a « phasedown/out » provision. With Saudi Arabia being the world’s largest oil exporter, the minister stated that not a single government believes in such a phase down. This sets the stage for intense discussions among the 200 participating countries at the climate conference.
Calls for total phaseout of fossil fuels
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently called for a complete phaseout of fossil fuels, citing the potential for « complete disaster » if mankind continues on its current trajectory. However, Prince Abdulaziz challenged those who advocate for a phase down, questioning how they plan to achieve such a transition. He suggested that if there is a strong belief in the moral imperative of phasing out fossil fuels, those advocates should lead the way and demonstrate their ability to deliver on their promises.
Criticism of Western donations and Saudi Arabia’s pledges
Prince Abdulaziz also criticized Western donations to a climate loss and damage fund, referring to them as « small change. » The fund, created to help vulnerable nations cope with the impacts of climate change, has received approximately $655 million from donors, including the EU and the US. However, campaigners argue that this amount is insufficient. In contrast, the prince highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing countries through its South-South cooperation, which includes an allocation of up to $50 billion for building resilient infrastructure and strengthening climate resilience in Africa. However, specific details regarding these commitments were not provided.
Focus on Africa and energy mix
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been emphasizing their focus on Africa and clean energy investments in the continent. The chairman of Saudi state oil giant Aramco, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, pointed out the challenges faced by undeveloped and developing countries in transitioning to cleaner energy sources. He mentioned a statement from an African minister who highlighted the need to carbonize before decarbonizing in order to achieve growth. This underscores the complexity of the energy mix and the differing circumstances that countries face in their efforts to combat climate change.
Saudi Arabia’s transition and the relevance of the COP28 talks
Prince Abdulaziz highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to revamp its energy sources, invest in renewables, and improve energy efficiency as part of its goal to decarbonize its economy by 2030. However, it’s important to note that this target does not include emissions from Saudi Arabia’s significant oil exports. The country’s participation in the COP28 talks is crucial as it contributes to the global dialogue on climate action and showcases its commitment to addressing climate change issues.
In conclusion, the rejection of a fossil fuel phase down by Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai sets the stage for challenging negotiations. The discussions at the conference will shape the future of global climate action, with the focus on finding common ground among participating countries and addressing the complex realities of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.