The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is publicly committed to curbing carbon emissions — but apparently that’s just lip service, according to a new investigation that found the petrostate has plans to get developing countries hooked on its lucrative fossil fuel exports.
Reporting from the nonprofit journalism organization Centre for Climate Reporting (CCR) and Channel 4 News found that Saudi Arabia calls the scheme an “oil sustainability program” on an English-language government website, with one of its stated goals as “increasing sustainability. But in the Arabic version, it’s called an “oil demand sustainability programme” that’s meant to “sustain and develop the demand for hydrocarbons as a competitive source of energy, by raising its economic and environmental efficiency.”
To achieve this, the country will focus on emerging countries such as those in Africa and the sale of vehicles with a higher use of fossil fuels, in addition to developing supersonic oil-intensive air transport, participating in the creation of a large-scale industry. from cheap internal combustion engines and other projects to carbon-emitting industries and infrastructure in the world’s poorest countries.
“When asked via an undercover reporter whether the program’s goal to artificially stimulate oil requires countering global efforts to decrease oil consumption and fight climate change,” the report says, “a Saudi official responded, ‘Yes. . . That is one of the main objectives we are trying to achieve.
This investigation is important because the country’s plans could unravel any progress made towards mitigation efforts on climate change, which has already impacted the world in melting polar ice, devastating forest fires, and record high temperatures.
It also shows that although the kingdom appears to be diversifying its economy beyond its heavy dependence on oil, it turns out that the country is hedging its bets with this fossil fuel program. Saudi Arabia is said to have recruited corporations such as state-owned Aramco in its search.
Critics of the plan argue that any emerging country that chooses to rely on fossil fuels in the long term risks affecting its environment and also the bleak prospect of staying in the technological advancement of green technologies.
“As an African, I am insulted that the Saudis think Africa is ripe for a green economy and a just transition,” Nigerian environmental activist Akinbode Oluwafemi told CCR and Channel 4. “What Africa wants is sustainable climate finance that allows it to make the transition. “to a climate-resilient economy.
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