Sultan Al-Saad Al-Qahtani

Let's Be Rational: It's Not Our Responsibility... But It Is Our Responsibility!

9 July 2026 - 00:03 | Last update 9 July 2026 - 00:03

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It is easy to point fingers, but hard to admit historical facts. For years, oil-producing countries, led by Saudi Arabia, have been subjected to a continuous campaign trying to portray them as the primary responsible for climate change and global warming, as if the world only knew pollution with oil, or that the Industrial Revolution did not leave a deep impact that the planet is still paying for to this day.

The truth is that the bulk of carbon emissions that contributed to the environmental imbalance came as a result of two centuries of intensive industrialization in major industrial countries, which relied on coal and then oil and gas to build their economies, achieve their industrial renaissance, and reach the levels of prosperity they enjoy today. Those countries consumed natural resources for decades before they started talking about protecting the environment, and after the cost of switching to clean energy became lower than it was in the past.

However, the Kingdom did not deal with this reality by trading accusations or shirking responsibility; instead, it chose a different approach based on participating in solutions. The Middle East Green Initiative came to confirm that the Kingdom views environmental protection as a human responsibility and a shared global interest, even if it was not the party that created the roots of the crisis.

Herein lies the paradox: the Kingdom is moving because it believes in its responsibility towards the future of the world, not because it acknowledges that it is the main cause of the problem. This difference should be present in any fair discussion about climate.

In contrast, oil continues to face campaigns portraying it as the 'enemy of humanity,' while this rhetoric ignores an undeniable fact: oil was and still is one of the most important reasons for modern renaissance. Through it, transportation, industries, petrochemicals, the health sector, infrastructure, and technologies that the world relies on today in various aspects of life have developed. Oil was never just fuel; it was a driver of development, innovation, and improving quality of life.

This does not mean ignoring environmental challenges or downplaying the importance of reducing emissions; rather, it means that addressing the problem must be based on balance and fairness, not on demonizing a source of energy that contributed to building modern civilization. The transition to a more sustainable future requires cooperation, innovation, and developing technologies to reduce emissions, not reducing the crisis to blaming one party.

The Kingdom has proven, through its massive investments in afforestation, renewable energy, and circular carbon economy technologies, that it is an active partner in international efforts to protect the environment. In doing so, it presents a model that combines maintaining its economic role as a leading country in the energy sector with practical contribution to addressing climate challenges.

As for the belief that global warming can completely disappear, it is a proposal lacking scientific realism. Climate is a complex system affected by intertwined natural and human factors, and what humans can do is to reduce negative impacts, adapt to them, and develop more sustainable solutions, not claim they can fully control nature's course.

Therefore, the message the Kingdom presents is clear: We are not responsible for the emergence of the problem, but we consider ourselves part of the solution. Between those who suffice with blame and those who work to build the future, the difference remains vast.