In advancing these goals, they have increasingly turned to China as a key partner. Five of the six GCC states have already set net zero targets in response to mounting pressure to address climate change. The United Arab Emirates has committed to achieving net zero by 2050, while Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain have set targets for 2060. Nevertheless, apart from these stated net zero ambitions, there have been limited tangible signs that Gulf states are truly committed to significantly reducing their dependencies on oil and gas, reflecting the current and future importance of hydrocarbons to GCC economies. That has led to accusations that the Gulf states’ adoption of more climate-friendly policies amounts to “greenwashing,” with Jaber even attracting recent criticism for greenwashing his own Wikipedia entry.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 26, 2023 17:30 UTC