Khalid bin Bandar: Saudi Arabia’s Climate Commitments are Serious, Thoughtful
Gulf
Glasgow - Najlaa Habriri
Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom Prince Khalid bin Bandar said that his country’s efforts to combat climate change were not new, but rather an “integral part” of Vision 2030, which was launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016. Saudi Arabia aims to effectively curb and combat climate change, which is a common goal for the entire international community, the ambassador said from the Kingdom’s pavilion at the COP26 conference in Glasgow. In exclusive remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Prince Khalid bin Bandar noted that confronting climate change can be achieved by working “together as an international community.” In this regard, he welcomed the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, highlighting the importance of “every effort by the United Nations and our international partners to work together and find a solution to address the most pressing issue facing the world today.” Days before the launching of the COP26 conference, Saudi Arabia announced a number of initiatives in the field of energy that would reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030 - a deliberate reduction of more than double the Kingdom’s previously set targets. The country also revealed a plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, through the circular carbon economy approach. The Saudi ambassador said that these initiatives “have been very well welcomed by the international community.” “It is something that most countries in the world have committed to by 2050 and 2060,” he added. Achieving this goal “is very complex,” he said. “Not only for us, but for all countries of the world.” He explained that reaching carbon neutrality relies on “technologies that may not exist yet, and also depends on the need to protect the economy.” Regarding the climate goals set by Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Bandar said: “We are committed to combating climate change and achieving the goals we have set, but we are also committed to setting achievable goals, not political statements.” He continued: “This is not a political statement. This is a serious and well-thought-out commitment by the Kingdom, which we will not only aim to achieve, but also to overcome.” The Saudi official said that combating climate change “is not something new to us; it is an integral part of Vision 2030.” “But it takes time, and I don’t think we are in a position to choose between the climate and the economy,” the diplomat noted, adding: “We believe that we can create a successful economy by fighting climate change. By combining the two, everyone wins.”
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3280421/khalid-bin-bandar-saudi-arabia%E2%80%99s-climate-commitments-are-serious-thoughtful
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