The Evolving Position of MENA Countries Regarding Climate Change, Emphasized by the Region’s Role in the COP28

The 28th edition of the COP, an annual summit where countries part of the United Nations meet and discuss how to prepare and limit future climate change, marked a turning point in global climate negotiations. This article explores the role of MENA (Middle East North Africa) countries in climate change, how they contribute to it, and how their leadership played a central role in the last COP (Conference of the Parties) summit

Historically, many MENA countries’ economies have been built around oil and hydrocarbons extraction, leading to an overreliance on fossil fuels for economic prosperity. The region has produced and continues to produce huge amounts of petrochemicals. Hence, they are responsible for large greenhouse gas emissions, the main contributor to climate change. To put in perspective, the Middle East produces the same amount of per capita greenhouse gas emissions as the U.S. and more than Europe.

Until now, the MENA, particularly the high oil producing Gulf countries, were reluctant to replace hydrocarbons like fuels as they represent a major part of their GDP. Additionally, the world’s oil demand remains very high today. The situation resembles the Tragedy of Commons, as the Gulf countries’ economic advantage to produce energy emitting greenhouse gas outweighs the collective environmental impacts.

Nevertheless, during the COP28, historical advancements towards reduction of greenhouse gas emissions were made. Indeed, for the first time in more than three decades of international climate diplomacy, all parties explicitly agreed to move away from using fossil fuels in energy system, marking for many “the beginning of the end of the fossil-fuel era.” The “global stocktake”, is an inventory of progress on cutting emissions thus far and feedback on how efforts could improve. It served as a groundwork for the different countries to evaluate the world’s collective action in tackling climate change and providing direction for future initiatives, to guarantee that the Paris Agreement's objectives are fulfilled. The text also states that greenhouse-gas emissions need to be cut by 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035, relative to 2019 levels, if limiting global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century is to be considered plausible. 

The MENA played an important role in the COP28 and negotiations during the conference. First, the meeting was held in Dubai, in the United Arab Nations from November 30th, 2023, to December 12th, 2023, and the summit’s president was Sultan Al-Jaber, the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Additionally, the Saudi government held the MENA Climate Week in October 2023 in Riyadh. It was essential in creating a unified regional stance on climate issues and an effective way to make sure that the global climate change issue is addressed properly across the region. This demonstrates the MENA’s will to not only be a participant but an actively engaged driver in negotiations, to find solutions regarding global climate change. Indeed, as the world moves away from hydrocarbon production, although it will require a lot of adaptation and mitigation, the MENA region will have to reconfigure and diversify its economy, to not be over reliant on hydrocarbons and improve their environmental impact. This will represent a significant economic challenge for MENA countries.

Historically oil-dependent nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates demonstrated their transition to renewable energy sources, highlighting a shift in the region's energy policies. For example, Saudi Arabia has implemented Vision 2030, a project consisting of massive investments with its oil revenues. Among these investments, many are made to find renewable energy, to diversify its energy sources. Saudi Arabia is pursuing large-scale wind and solar power projects because it recognizes that sustainable energy sources will be the way of the future and that its oil reserves are limited. Regarding the United Arab Emirates, they created the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, one of the biggest solar parks in the world, proving the country’s commitment to lowering its reliance on fossil fuels. The country's investment in nuclear energy, such as the Barakah nuclear power plant, strengthens its position as the region's leader in clean energy and further diversifies its energy portfolio.

The MENA’s changing energy policies have an impact on the region and the world. The region leading nations like Saudi Arabia and UAE serve as role models for other countries with comparable economic structures as they transition to renewable energy sources. Their initiatives show how economic dependence on fossil fuels can change and come to embrace renewable energy sources as essential parts of national energy policies. This shift is necessary for economic sustainability considering declining oil reserves and international climate commitments, in addition to being crucial for the environment.

In conclusion, although the MENA region has historically been a major contributor to climate change through its large greenhouse gas emission, the last COP summit changed the world’s perception of the region. Indeed, the MENA now proactively participates in international climate negotiations in order to find sustainable global climate change policies, and has raised the bar for future COP meetings as historical agreements were made during the last 28th edition held in Dubai.