Saudi Arabia Is Trying to Block a Global Deal to End Fossil Fuels | The world’s leading oil exporter has become the most forceful opponent of a new agreement at the U.N. climate summit
The world’s leading oil exporter has become the most forceful opponent of a new agreement at the U.N. climate summit, according to people inside the talks.
The Saudi delegation has flatly opposed any language in a deal that would even mention fossil fuels — the oil, gas and coal that, when burned, create emissions that are dangerously heating the planet. Saudi negotiators have also objected to a provision, endorsed by at least 118 countries, aimed at tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Saudi Arabia has had an active delegation at every IPCC meeting over three decades - no excuse to be unaware, they always manage to scrape as close as possible to rejection from the process. By the way we misrepresent by saying "Saudi Arabia" - petro-dollars are only existential for an autocratic government (similar applies to gas-putin) - Arabian population would benefit from less climate change (their region will approach uninhabitable in summer - pity COP was not in July - note how they moved world-cup).
They already import 80% of their food and 40% of the water they consume is not replenishing. That is besides being in an already unstable region of the world, which would become largely uninhabitable with climate change going on further. So when oil either runs out or they can not sell it anymore, they are in a really bad spot.
There's a guy where I live who's been working for over a decade with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai, designing and implementing huge investments into renewables, especially solar. They are also investing huge sums into dessalination technology and solar furnaces.
They have some plan up their sleeves and I guess everyone will be taken off hand when it will be made public.