Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the inaugural Saudi Green Initiative summit
Saudi Arabia signs up to net zero
Riyadh insists carbon neutrality is compatible with plans to raise oil and gas production
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, took to the stage at the inaugural Saudi Green Initiative summit in the Saudi capital of Riyadh to pledge his country would achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Designed partly to curry favour with Washington and to polish the young royal’s heavily tarnished international reputation, the move’s symbolism was undoubtedly powerful and was welcomed by those pushing for stiffer commitments from other G20 states in the run-up to Cop26 climate change summit. Domestically, some of the shifts required will be radical. Globally, however, the practical impact will be minimal—the razzmatazz surrounding the proclamation serving also to
Also in this section
23 January 2025
The return of Donald Trump gives further evidence of ‘big oil’ as an investable asset, with the only question being whether anyone is really surprised
21 January 2025
The new president must put his cards on the table and tell the American people, and the world, if the US is formally abandoning the energy transition
14 January 2025
Bioenergy will be a key part of the energy transition as the world decarbonises, and Brazil is set to be a major player in the sector
14 January 2025
The region has ample resources of both gas and renewable energy and developing both will be vital to the global effort to reduce emissions
