COP28 fossil transition clause sparks Saudi pushback
The “transition away from fossil fuels” agreed during COP28 in Dubai is not legally binding for Saudi Arabia, according to Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
Speaking after the summit, the minister argued that the Dubai Climate Pact leaves room for national discretion and does not impose mandatory obligations to reduce coal, oil or gas production or demand.
His interpretation centers on the language of the Global Stocktake (GST), particularly Article 28, which frames climate actions as measures to be implemented “in a nationally determined manner” and with consideration of “different national circumstances.”
Binding commitment or diplomatic flexibility?
According to bin Salman, the wording of the GST makes the fossil fuel transition an option rather than a universal obligation.
Article 28 lists several actions, including tripling global renewable capacity by 2030, doubling energy efficiency, accelerating the reduction of unabated coal use, and promoting low-carbon technologies such as nuclear energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and direct air capture (DAC).
The minister contends that countries are free to select one or more of these measures rather than implement all of them.
However, this interpretation contrasts with the diplomatic weight of the phrase “calls on” within UN climate negotiations. In climate diplomacy, this wording generally implies a formal expectation of action, even if enforcement mechanisms remain limited.
The ambiguity lies in the absence of explicit language requiring countries to adopt every listed action. Saudi Arabia appears to be leveraging that gap.
Transition does not mean phase-out
Bin Salman went further, stressing that speaking about a transition away from fossil fuels does not in any way mean moving toward a phase-out.
“We could have used the same word interchangeably, but there is a difference here: there are people who are undertaking a transition because they want to change their energy mix, as we are doing, and there are those who believe they should abandon the transition because they do not want to use fossil fuels,” the minister said during a conference, according to Climate Home.