Saudi Energy Minister at COP28 Refuses Language To Phase Down Fossil Fuels
Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman declared Monday that the kingdom did not intend to support any version of a final text at COP28 that calls for phasing out fossil fuels.
The comment was made during a TV interview in Riyadh on Monday when he was asked whether his government would be willing to see the language added to the United Nations Climate Change Conference’s (COP28) cumulative final document.
COP28, which began on November 30 and is set to end on December 12, hosts national delegations from over 60 of the world’s largest economies and is widely seen as the most significant climate-focused event in the world.
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This year, many of the delegations at COP28, including major players such as the US and EU, have been pushing for a commitment by all to a complete phase-out or phase-down of fossil fuels as part of the text. It is required that the text be unanimous to be ratified.
In the interview, Abdulaziz said that countries pushing for a phase-out should hold themselves to that plan before asking others to do the same.
“I’m not naming names,” he said. “But those countries who really believe in phasing out and phasing down hydrocarbons, you should come out and put together a plan for how starting in 1st of January 2024.”
Negotiators from nations seeking to include the phase-out language in the text have proposed compromise terms, such as referring to it as a transition. The extent to which Abdulaziz, the half-brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is willing to negotiate on the issue remains uncertain.
Despite Saudi Arabia having a net-zero goal, the kingdom contends that the focus should be on emissions rather than specific fuel types.
From the outset of COP28, the summit has faced suspicion and frustration from climate change advocates, policymakers, and scientists. Many argue that hosting the summit in an oil-focused economy like the UAE is counterproductive to the goals of the conference. Critics have also pointed out a potential conflict of interest, with COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber, head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., leading the summit.
