Saudi should ‘review’ emissions targets: French minister

Saudi should ‘review’ emissions targets: French minister

Saudi Arabia should review its goals for lowering carbon emissions and consider adopting targets to be met as soon as 2030, France's energy transition minister told AFP in the kingdom.

Agnes Pannier-Runacher left the world's biggest oil exporter early Sunday morning after meeting with her Saudi counterpart and French and Saudi business people.

Emissions reduction targets can be more credible "when we give ourselves objectives in a short period -- 2030-2035 -- and therefore do not postpone the subject to 2050," Pannier-Runacher said in an interview late Saturday.

Saudi Arabia pledged in 2021 to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060.

The French minister's trip came as the United Arab Emirates prepares to host the COP28 climate summit beginning in November, an event at which neighbouring Saudi Arabia can play "a leadership role", Pannier-Runacher said.

The climate talks represent a "time to take stock of our respective trajectories," she added. France will do so, "and obviously encourages all countries and in particular Saudi Arabia to also review its trajectory," she added.

Largely state-owned energy firm Saudi Aramco, the kingdom's main revenue generator, is targeting "operational net-zero" carbon emissions by 2050, which applies to emissions produced directly by the firm's industrial sites.

Environmental