In an attempt to find climate solutions, the United Arab Emirate government hosted a climate week for the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, which ran from March 28–31. MENA is extremely vulnerable to climate change, already experiencing extreme storms, floods, and fires. Water scarcity and food insecurity have resulted, in addition to further destabilized governments. MENA’s high contributions to global emissions and fossil fuel extraction mean they need to make great changes to their energy sector. MENA Climate Week aimed to highlight climate consequences and inspire countries to join forces and take more action.
“The current crisis shows that we must accelerate, not slow, the renewable energy transition,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “This is the only true path to energy security.”
A rapid shift away from fossil fuels needs to be set in motion. However, oil and gas companies in the region have been resistant to anti-fossil fuel policy changes. Oil is a big money-maker for MENA countries, and they do not want to give up this income. In Saudi Arabia, the oil and gas industry accounts for 50% of its gross domestic product (GDP), according to the World Population Review. Iraq, UAE, and Iran are other top global oil profiteers. At the most recent summits, fossil fuel producers tried to gain support for the fossil fuel industry to maintain their wealth.
Oil producers have also used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its effects on the global oil supply as an excuse to keep oil in the loop. Many countries have put sanctions on Russia, a big supplier of oil, so supply has decreased. Oil prices spiked, as a result, reaching their highest price ever since 2008, reports Al Jazeera.
“We definitely at this time need to include all available resources,” UAE Minister of Energy Suhail al-Mazrouei said at an energy forum in Dubai. “We cannot ignore or say we are going to abandon certain production. It’s just not the right time, whatever reason you have. ”
In this uncertain time, the world cannot afford to lose a source of energy. Cutting off oil would leave many people without the energy needed for lighting, cooling, or cooking. Al Jazeera reported that Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that “Without energy security, countries can’t tackle climate change.” These companies are advocating for an established clean energy sector before ending their businesses.
However, that is unrealistic, which oil companies know. The transition to fully clean energy will be a long and complex process. If the world were to wait for a complete energy transition before decreasing fossil fuel production, the planet and its populations would be at immense risk. Already, despite growth in renewable energy, emissions are increasing because of higher energy demands and continued expansion of fossil fuel use. These companies advocating for their continued product is the reason other renewable energy efforts are only making a slight dent in progress.
According to Francesco La Camera, the director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), “The energy transition is far from being on track, and anything short of radical action in the coming years will diminish, even eliminate, chances to meet our climate goals.”
IRENA released a report this past week calling for radical action and money to be poured into shifting away from fossil fuels. According to AP News, one specific ask was that $700 billion be diverted away from drilling oil wells, laying gas pipelines, and building power plants. Instead, that money can be put towards improving energy efficiency, electrifying transport and heating systems, and refining carbon emission capture technologies. Especially right now, as the world is shaking from the war in Ukraine and its effects on oil prices, there is a chance to shift away from expensive fossil fuels toward clean energy. Although fossil fuel advocates spoke loudly at MENA Climate Week, efforts to pass policies that limit the power of these companies cannot be stopped. Environmentalists and politicians need to work hard to advocate for the enactment of anti-fossil fuel policies.
