Washington, November 19, 2024 — As the United Nations climate talks enter their final week in Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabian diplomats are reportedly working to undermine any agreement aimed at phasing out fossil fuels. This development coincides with the G20 summit taking place in Brazil, where discussions on climate policy are also ongoing.
According to negotiators, Saudi Arabia's actions are part of a year-long campaign to obstruct a pledge made by 200 nations to abandon oil, gas, and coal. Despite being a signatory to this agreement, Saudi officials have been actively seeking to prevent the inclusion of similar commitments in new global accords.
Saudi Arabia has opposed transitional language in at least five UN resolutions this year, impacting various international discussions including those on nuclear energy and biodiversity. Diplomats have noted that the current Saudi opposition is unprecedented, employing procedural objections that have stalled negotiations on critical issues such as carbon markets and decarbonization efforts.
The recent election of Donald Trump has reportedly emboldened Saudi officials, as he has pledged to withdraw the United States from global climate commitments and ramp up fossil fuel production. This shift in U.S. policy appears to have influenced Saudi Arabia's stance at the COP29 talks.
During the negotiations, Saudi representatives have blocked progress on key texts, with some refusing to participate in discussions altogether. Observers have described the Saudi government's approach as blatant and unapologetic, with accusations of bad faith directed at other nations.
The Saudi delegation's efforts to derail discussions on fossil fuel phase-out have been evident in various forums, including the recent G20 meetings in Washington, where they resisted supporting climate finance initiatives that included fossil fuel transition language.
Despite these challenges, a final agreement at the G20 did recall the need for a transition away from fossil fuels, although it stopped short of endorsing it. Experts have emphasized the importance of reaffirming such commitments across different platforms to strengthen global climate action.