By Teddy Nwanunobi
The Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, has declared that the world needs inclusive, pragmatic and holistic approaches to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Barkindo, who also underlined the positive role of science, innovation and technology on this front, spoke when the OPEC Secretariat hosted the 19th Coordination Meeting on Climate Change via videoconference.
The meeting served as an interactive and open platform for representatives of OPEC-member countries and countries participating in the Charter of Cooperation (CoC), as well as international organisations, to dialogue and discuss key issues related to climate negotiation processes, the scientific contribution of IPCC to the climate processes and energy access in the context of sustainable development.
The meeting was in the lead-up to the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) planned for October 31 to November 12 in Glasgow, UK.
Barkindo opened the meeting by highlighting its importance and timeliness, noting that the coordination meetings continue to provide a dynamic and transparent stage to exchange views and share knowledge on climate change and sustainable development matters that concern the global community, including OPEC-member countries.
On the approaches, he added, “taking into account national circumstances and priorities of developing countries”.
In this context, Barkindo lauded the commitment and support that OPEC-member countries provide to key issues of global concern, including sustainable development and climate change.
He added that the 13-member countries continue to advocate these matters under the principles of equity and ‘common-but-differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’.
“Our strength and power lies in our ability to work together as a team to address these various issues. We have much more impact as a unified voice than we have individually,” Barkindo said.
The Secretary General also recognised the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in advancing sustainability, innovation and climate change initiatives.
“The wise and widely accepted models put forward by the Kingdom – including the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) and Green Initiatives – can serve to enhance cooperation and dialogue and effectively address the pressing climate change challenge,” he stated.
Under the Presidency of Saudi Arabia in 2020, the G20 adopted the framework of the CCE and its ‘4Rs’– reduce, reuse, recycle and remove.
The Kingdom also announced on March 27 of this year the ‘Saudi Green Initiative’ and the ‘Middle East Green Initiative’ to serve as platforms to promote cooperation and encourage innovative and sustainable solutions to climate change.
On the energy transition, the Secretary General recalled the seventh Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations, which addresses the issue of access to affordable and reliable energy for all.
He noted that oil is forecast to remain a critical source of energy, forming a crucial part of the current and future global energy mix in the years ahead.
The Secretary General stated that preparations for the First Ministerial Roundtable on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development for oil-producing countries are underway.
The Roundtable is scheduled to take place on September 6, 2021 under the framework of the CoC.
The meeting convened, following the Fourth Technical Workshop on Climate Change, which was held on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, via videoconference.