Climate progress screeched to a halt this year. One country had its foot on the brake

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🗞️ Driving the news: Saudi Arabia is being criticized for actively stalling global climate action during major United Nations summits in 2024, including COP29 in Baku and other negotiations on biodiversity and plastic pollution
• Experts argue that Saudi Arabia's efforts to dilute progress reflect its reliance on fossil fuels, which constitute 70% of its government revenue
• Despite agreeing to phase out fossil fuels at COP28, Saudi negotiators backtracked at COP29, pushing for voluntary commitments and rejecting any explicit fossil fuel limitations

🔭 The context: Saudi Arabia, the world’s second-largest oil producer, has historically used its influence in global climate talks to resist ambitious measures
• Its role in establishing consensus-based decision-making in the 1990s has enabled obstruction by powerful nations, further delaying action
• Recent international criticism comes as the kingdom also opposes limiting plastic production, a growing market tied to fossil fuels

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Delays in climate action exacerbate the global climate crisis, disproportionately affecting vulnerable nations experiencing severe natural disasters
• Saudi Arabia’s resistance undermines the transition to renewable energy, jeopardizing international goals to curb emissions and prevent catastrophic warming
• Meanwhile, the nation’s pivot to plastic and petrochemicals signals potential long-term challenges for sustainability

⏭️ What's next: With climate summits like COP30 on the horizon, growing scrutiny may intensify pressure on Saudi Arabia to align with global emission reduction targets
• Broader global consensus on fossil fuel phase-outs could isolate obstructionist nations
• Locally, countries impacted by Saudi-led delays are prioritizing adaptation strategies to mitigate the worsening climate impacts

💬 One quote: “Saudi Arabia acted like a ‘climate wrecking ball,’ blocking ambitious climate commitments,” - Alden Meyer, a senior associate at E3G

📈 One stat: Saudi fossil fuels account for approximately 70% of the nation’s government revenue

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