Saudis’ climate goal: ‘Net zero,’ but still using oil

The kingdom’s plan relies on unreliable carbon capture and storage technologies.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — One of the world’s largest oil producers, Saudi Arabia, announced Saturday that it aims to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, joining more than 100 countries in a global effort to try to curb climate change.

The announcement, made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in brief scripted remarks at the start of the kingdom’s first Saudi Green Initiative Forum, was timed to make a splash a little more than a week before the start of the global climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Although the kingdom will aim to reduce its emissions, Mohammed said the kingdom would do so through a “Carbon Circular Economy” approach. The idea focuses on still unreliable carbon capture and storage technologies over efforts to actually reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. The announcement pertains only to Saudi Arabia’s efforts within its borders, and does not affect its continued aggressive investment in oil and exporting its fossil fuels to Asia and other regions.

“The transition to net zero carbon emissions will be delivered in a manner that preserves the kingdom’s leading role in enhancing the security and stability of global energy markets, particularly considering the maturity and availability of technologies necessary to manage and reduce emissions,” a statement by the Saudi Green Initiative Forum said.

The kingdom’s oil and gas exports form the backbone of its economy, despite efforts to diversify away from reliance on fossil fuels for revenue.

The global summit, known as the 26th Conference of the Parties, or COP26, starts Oct. 31. It will draw heads of state from across the world to try to tackle global warming and its challenges. It is being described as “the world’s last best chance” to prevent global warming from reaching dangerous levels.

The summit is expected to see a flurry of new commitments from governments and businesses to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

Leaked documents first reported by the BBC emerged Thursday showing how Saudi Arabia and other countries, including Australia, Brazil and Japan, are apparently trying to water down an upcoming United Nations science panel report on global warming. The documents are purportedly evidence of the way in which some governments’ public support for climate action is undermined by their efforts behind closed doors.

Saudi Arabia has pushed back against the recommendation that fossil fuels be urgently phased out. Instead, the kingdom wants nations to continue burning fossil fuels and says its plan would suck the resulting emissions out of the atmosphere, according to Greenpeace, which obtained the documents.

The kingdom repeatedly seeks to have the report’s authors delete references to the need to stop the use of fossil fuels.