Informal Assessment of Saudi Arabia's current position related to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol

1. Saudi Arabia Climate
Policy Report
Domestic climate and energy policies, role in the UN conference(s)

2. Climate and Energy Policies
Current
 *Almost entirely reliant on
domestic oil for energy,
development
 *Price for energy remains low even
as electricity usage has risen over
the last decade.
 *75-80% of domestic revenue from
oil exports, 20-25% of world’s
known crude oil reserves
 2005: ratify KY, recognize man-
made climate change
Proposed
 Saudi Arabia vowed this year to
spend $110 billion to move forward
towards 33% renewable energy by
the year 2032
 Desert makes solar energy a major
possibility. SA vows to become a
leading solar energy exporter in
future decades.

3. Oil Pipeline
Because a presentation should have at least one picture.

4. Role in the UN Conferences
 Notoriously obstructionist and
uncooperative, has challenged
science in the past
 No binding targets as a non-Annex I
nation
 SA is considered to be a developing
country
 Key negotiator-Mohammad al
Sabban (see picture)

5. Conference Demands
 Compensation from Annex I nations
for mitigation and adaptation to a
warmer world
 Anticipates continued usage of fossil
fuels, desire to maximize profit from
domestic oil reserves
 At times have demanded
recuperation for potential/perceived
losses due to countries using more
renewable energy
 Has suggested credits for instating
carbon capture program in depleted
Saudi oil wells

6. Key Allies
OPEC
Nations
China
India Indonesia
USA?

7. Personal Assessment
 Is complete oil extraction
compatible with measures to
combat climate change?
 Oil prices are artificial; this is
about maximizing profits, not
about development
 Saudi Arabia is a “developing”
country?? GDP high, abundant fossil
fuels, but this is what happens in a
corrupt oligarchy
 What will Saudi Arabia do when the
oil runs out???????