Posted by 
Saudi Arabia appointed a veteran diplomat and former ambassador to the US as its first climate envoy, a task that had previously been mostly managed by the same ministry that controls oil production.
Adel Al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, will take on the role in addition to his current job, according to a royal order issued on Sunday. Al-Jubeir had previously served as foreign minister — a separate title.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the appointment means for the climate policy of the world’s largest crude oil exporter — which has typically been directed by officials in its Ministry of Energy.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
In addition to setting crude production policy, the energy ministry also employs a chief climate negotiator named Khalid Abuleif, charged with representing the kingdom’s interests while hashing out climate agreements abroad.
Saudi Arabia has recently made a raft of announcements of new initiatives as it looks to improve its reputation on climate change. It announced a plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060 in October, amid pressure from the US and Europe to accelerate policy to tackle global warming, but has also committed to investing more in oil and gas production arguing that the world needs more hydrocarbons as it transitions to cleaner fuels.
Read more:
Increased oil revenue to help Saudi Arabia achieve sustainability goals: Minister
Saudi Arabia targets net zero emissions by 2060: Crown Prince
Source: Alarabiya
