For the first time, Saudi Arabia joins other countries in pledging efforts to help combat climate change and global warming.
The petroleum exporter giant announced that they will be making plans to diversify its economy to contribute in the global effort.
Saudi Arabia is the last of the 20 major economies to submit a proposal to the United Nations (UN) before the climate change summit in Paris. The country did not give details on the rate of its carbon emissions, but the World Resources Institute, a US-based environmental think tank, estimate that Saudi Arabia produces around 527 million tons of carbon emissions a year.
The fact that the kingdom submitted plans reducing their carbon footprint is already a big deal and is considered as good sign for the success of the Paris summit. Since Saudi Arabia's economy is largely dependent on its crude oil industry, it has made previous efforts to decrease carbon emissions.
"It demonstrates that Saudi Arabia understands the impacts of climate change on its people and the role that renewable energy can play in diversifying its economy," Jennifer Morgan of the World Resources Institute said.
According to their submission, Saudi Arabia's diversification efforts could avoid 130 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually by 2030. They are also planning to use oil export earnings to help support this diversification.
No further details have been revealed, but Saudi Arabia noted its plans to invest in other forms of energy production, such as solar and geothermal power. The kingdom aimed to save about 1.5 million barrels of oil a day by April through methods that use energy more efficiently and limit domestic oil consumption.
Some experts take this as an effort for the kingdom to anticipate a possible economy independent from the oil industry.
"The Saudis may be sending a very first tentative signal that they're preparing for a post-oil economy, which will clearly be a challenge for them more than any others," said Bill Hare, a member of the Climate Analytics, a research group studying other countries' pledges.
So far, 158 countries have formally submitted plans to combat climate change to the UN before the two-week long Paris summit which will start on Nov. 30.
