Saudi Arabia’s stand against fossil fuel reduction at COP28

At the COP28 summit in Dubai, Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman firmly dismissed the prospect of agreeing to a text advocating the phase-down of fossil fuels. In a television interview in Riyadh, when asked whether Saudi Arabia, the world’s foremost oil exporter, would endorse such language, Prince Abdulaziz responded unequivocally with “Absolutely not.”

This stance comes amidst strong calls from numerous countries at COP28, including the US and the EU, for a commitment to phase out or reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The summit’s consensus-based approach necessitates unanimous agreement on the text, leading negotiators to consider alternative phrases, such as limiting the reduction to “unabated” fossil fuels or connecting it to a just transition. Prince Abdulaziz, who is the half-brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, did not clarify whether Saudi Arabia would accept such a compromise.