Energy
Futureby Christine Conte
Middle East
Jan 17th 20256 minsIn the aftermath of the COP29 summit, during which Saudi Arabia refused any language about divesting from fossil fuels, the world is calling on the nation to adjust its approach to climate change. As the climate crisis continues, how can the Middle Eastern country transition from a natural resource that has given it power and security to a greener, more sustainable future? —The Middle East is projected to be one of the world’s regions most adversely affected by climate change, yet it remains resolutely opposed to policies that may impact their economic security – a trade-off that is difficult to understand in a region marked by instability. Saudi Arabia is one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world due to its vast oil reserves. As it fights to keep power in a shifting world, the nation’s refusal to allow the thought of fossil fuel reduction to enter global environmental talks is negligent wielding of its power and detrimental both to its citizens and the rest of the Middle East, whom the nation often represents in exclusive groups such as the G20. Examining the history of the country, the perceived importance of fossil fuels to economic development, and the effects climate change is having and will continue to have on the Saudi Arabian people clearly shows a stubborn fixation on tradition and unwillingness to progress. Saudi Arabia has this opportunity to position itself as a leader in solutions to climate change, but it will miss out if it continues to hold fast to the resources of the past.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East by area. It is home to a wide variety of ecosystems, including forested mountains, sprawling deserts, and marine ecosystems. Its most important economic resource: petroleum. Saudi Arabia is home to about 17% of the world’s oil reserves and with current fossil fuel dependency, the nation is a global power. Discovered in 1938 in Dammam by an American oil well, the resource quickly became the catalyst for a shift in the Saudi economy. What had been an isolated country dependent on tourist revenue from the Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, was increasingly enmeshed in foreign relationships. The Khurais oil processing facility in eastern Saudi Arabia. Photo: Wikimedia CommonsThe Saudi economy has been dependent on these foreign relationships, with a large part of its revenue coming from rent paid by foreign countries for the right to drill for oil in the country. This wealth has been shared amongst Saudi Arabians, who enjoy tax-free personal income. Now, even as global oil demand changes and climate change mitigation relies on reduction of fossil fuel dependency, the nation remains resistant to changes in its economic dependency on petroleum.Despite its size and diverse landscape, Saudi Arabia faces severe repercussions from climate change, wit