Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said Wednesday that the Kingdom was committed to its pledges to reduce carbon emissions and address the climate crisis.
He emphasized that energy security constituted a necessary basis for the prosperity of the global economy, and for achieving a smooth transition to deal with climate challenges.
The Saudi minister’s remarks came during a panel discussion, held within the framework of the business sessions of the LEAP International Technology Conference in Riyadh. The discussion, entitled “Technology for the Energy Transition”, was moderated by Lord Stephen Carter, former British Minister for Communications and CEO of Informa PLC.
Prince Abdulaziz noted that energy sustainability and the use and development of adequate technologies would help the Kingdom reach zero-net emissions in 2060.
He pointed to the role of the Saudi youth in achieving climate goals, saying: “The real story of the Kingdom is the ambitious, determined, and hopeful young generation. Thanks to this generation, the word ‘impossible’ will never be in our dictionary.”
The Saudi Minister of Energy stressed the need to engage positively in the conservation and purification of energy, and to reduce emissions, noting that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented great initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to achieve zero emissions in 2060.
“Within this commitment, we hosted this conference that brought together the world of technicians in Riyadh, and launched programs that work effectively to reduce emissions,” he stated.
“Thanks to our low-cost production, whether in oil, gas or renewable energy, we will certainly be the least expensive producers of hydrogen, and our perseverance saved us in the OPEC Plus agreement,” Prince Abdulaziz said, noting that his country’s interest in nuclear energy comes within the framework of providing energy services at a lower price to those living in remote areas of the Kingdom.