In response to Saudi Arabia announcement of Major Oil and Natural Gas discoveries in The Eastern Province and Empty Quarter, Shady Khalil, Campaign Lead from Greenpeace MENA, Said:
This announcement is deeply concerning and indicates that Saudi Arabia has not yet embraced the imperative that the fossil fuel era is ending. COP28 in Dubai has sent a strong signal on the need to transition away from fossil fuels by 2050, with a decline this decade marking the end of the fossil fuel era. Saudi Arabia needs to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the historical consensus reached at COP28 in Dubai.
We urge Saudi Arabia to prioritize the well-being of billions around the world, including its own citizens and the millions who travel to Hajj. The impacts of extreme weather events are significant and growing. This year alone, more than 1,300 people tragically died during Hajj, with numerous cases attributed to heat stress as temperatures soared to dangerous levels. This stark reality underscores the immediate need for action.
Saudi Arabia must reconsider new oil and gas exploration and prioritize the millions of lives that will be impacted by emissions from fossil fuel expansion. The time to transition is now; we don't have more time to waste. Instead of doubling down on fossil fuel expansion, Saudi Arabia needs to raise its climate commitments, halt new expansions on all fossil fuels—gas, oil, and coal—and invest this energy in diversifying its economy and mitigating the risk of being dependent on the rapidly declining fossil fuel industry.
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