Saudi Prince’s “Net Zero by 2060” Goal Comes with Intriguing Contradictions

Oct 25, 2021
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Also published in The Hill
About the Authors
Simon Henderson
Simon Henderson

Simon Henderson is the Baker Senior Fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at The Washington Institute, specializing in energy matters and the conservative Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

Articles & Testimony

His presence at a major climate event will be awash in speculation regarding Canadian hit squads, British charities, and uncertain relations with the Biden administration.

In the run-up to the climate conference that starts in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 31, Riyadh is leading the race to dominate the headlines. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s effective ruler, announced last weekend at his Saudi Green Initiative that his country aims to get to “net zero” by 2060. Yet few people will have noticed the climate contradiction in this target. In 2060, Saudi Arabia still intends to be a significant oil and gas producer, perhaps retaining its position as the largest oil exporter. But that doesn’t get an entry in the kingdom’s accounting ledger of emissions. It’s only when the oil and gas reaches its destination, and is converted into gasoline or electric power, that it emits carbon...

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