Saudi Arabia Says They Want to a 'Achieve a Green Future,' But They Forgot One Important Thing At the United Nations COP27 conference in Egypt, the oil-rich country laid out a controversial plan for sustainability.

By Jonathan Small

Saudi Arabia produces 10.84 million barrels of oil a day, which makes up 11 percent of the world's total export.

So it came as a bit of a surprise at last week's United Nations climate conference, COP27, in Sharm el-Egypt, when the Saudi government announced a plan for "a greener future and better quality of life" but didn't mention cutting oil production.

The ambitious plan calls for afforestation and biodiversity, emissions reduction, investments in alternative energy, the establishment of new protected areas, and plans for a new carbon capture and storage hub.

But some climate experts were not impressed.

"Saudi Arabia would be better placed to focus on cutting emissions rather than relying on carbon capture and storage and questionable reductions from planting trees, the offsets of which would simply allow them to continue increasing emissions from burning fossil fuels," said Mia Moisio, an energy policy expert at the New Climate Institute think tank.

To read more about this controversial topic, head over to Grist.

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Solutions

All the PDF Tools You Need in One Easy-to-Use App

Sign, edit, and merge PDFs in seconds.

Business Process

The Best Times, Days and Months To Post on YouTube (2023)

When is the best time to post YouTube videos to maximize their effect? Discover the best time to post on YouTube in this detailed guide.

Business Culture

It's Time to Rewrite Your Company's Values — Here's How

Most companies' values are forgotten or disconnected from daily operations. By rethinking and co-creating values with your team, you can transform them into actionable tools that align behavior, build trust and drive performance.

Resumes & Interviewing

Automate Applications and Supercharge Your Job Hunt for $39

Three hundred applications per month, tailored to your goals.