Saudi Gazette Report

GLASGOW — Recognizing the diversity of climate solutions is important in addressing the climate change challenges, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman said Wednesday, while participating in the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 here.

It is necessary not to be biased towards one source of energy sources over the other, the minister confirmed.

The minister added that recognizing the diversity of solutions related to climate change and focusing on its emissions, as the 2015 Paris agreement stated, is necessary.

The minister stressed, “The success of the climate change response lies on three main axes: energy security, economic growth to achieve people' prosperity, addressing climate change challenges."

He added that “it requires a joint global response”.

Prince Abdulaziz announced earlier that the Kingdom is preparing to launch an energy strategy soon, as it will embody the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.

The energy strategy will also embody programs related to decarbonization such as: raising energy efficiency and the hydrogen production transformation program and the renewable energy usage program.

The decisions come based on Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman’s announcement that Saudi Arabia aims to reach Net Zero by 2060, through the Carbon Circular Economy approach.

For reducing emissions, Crown Prince Muhammad had launched initiatives in the energy sector that will reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030, thus voluntarily more than doubling the target announced, estimated at 130 million tons annually.

The Crown Prince also announced the Kingdom's accession to the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions globally by 30 percent.