Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest oil producers announced Saturday it aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, joining more than 100 countries in a global effort to try and curb climate change.
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The announcement, made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in scripted remarks at the start of the kingdom's first-ever Saudi Green Initiative Forum, was timed to make a splash before the start of the global COP26 climate conference being held in Scotland.
The prince vowed Saudi Arabia will plant 450 million trees and rehabilitate huge swaths of land by 2030, reducing more than 270 million tons of carbon emissions a year and attempting to turn the landlocked city of Riyadh into a more sustainable capital.
Although the kingdom will aim to reduce emissions within its own borders, there is no indication Saudi Arabia will slow down investments in oil and gas or relinquish sway over energy markets by moving away from the production of fossil fuels.
