Are the Saudis smoking something? They claim wind and solar power are a cause of pollution.
Well, what did you expect? As COP28 draws to a close, it has become time for oil-rich states, particularly in the Gulf, to make it clear they are not happy at the prospect of renewable energy replacing their precious (to them, anyway) fossil fuels.
First out of the gate was Saudi Arabia with a particularly wacky notion: that wind and solar power pose a climate threat just like the black stuff that comes out of their deserts. In a Saudi government document obtained by Politico, an argument is made that there is cause for concern about the “lifecycle” greenhouse gas emissions produced by wind, solar, and other renewable sources. Mmm, not quite sure what that means, but maybe they’re pointing to the energy spent manufacturing and installing solar and wind arrays? Doesn’t make a whole bunch of sense, but, hey, they’re trying.
Slightly less wacky-tobaccy in nature, though still very doubtful, is another of their arguments: that expensive, largely unproven methods of grabbing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and oceans are an essential part of the strategy for countering climate change. In other words, carbon removal.
Signs of panic? It would seem so, as indicated by the contents of leaked OPEC letters in which the oil cartel warns its member countries with “utmost urgency” that “pressure against fossil fuels may reach a tipping point with irreversible consequences” at COP. The letters, reports The Guardian, note that a “fossil fuels phase out” remains on the negotiating table at the U.N. climate summit and urges the oil states to “proactively reject any text or formula that targets energy, i.e. fossil fuels, rather than emissions.”
Er, don’t the two go hand-in-hand?
The letters — which are dated December 6 and signed by Kuwait’s Haitham al-Ghais, the OPEC secretary general — were sent to the 13 members of the organization, which includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria and the COP28 host, the United Arab Emirates. These countries own 80% of global oil reserves and produced about 40% of the world’s oil over the last decade. The letter was also sent to 10 OPEC allies, known as OPEC+ countries, and including Russia and Mexico. It said: “While OPEC [and OPEC+] countries are taking climate change seriously and have a proven record on climate actions, it would be unacceptable that politically motivated campaigns put our people’s prosperity and future at risk.”
As we said, what did you expect?
