G20 backs KSA's circular carbon economy strategy

DUBAI, Sept 29 (Arab News): Energy ministers from the G20 group of leading economies have endorsed Saudi Arabia's approach to managing harmful greenhouse-gas emissions in the global campaign against climate change.

At the end of a two-day meeting organised by the Saudi G20 presidency in Riyadh, the ministers issued a communique acknowledging that the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE), the Kingdom's contribution to the global environmental debate, offers "a holistic, integrated, inclusive and pragmatic approach to managing emissions that can be applied reflecting a country's priorities and circumstances."

They added that "by encompassing the broad range of pathways and options available, CCE takes into account different national circumstances, while striving to meet our shared global aspirations." CCE is an energy strategy that advocates the "three Rs" of environmentalism: reduce, reuse and recycle carbon products. Crucially, however, it adds a fourth R: remove, in an effort to eliminate harmful pollutants from the atmosphere.

The wording of the communique was debated by ministers during a lengthy closed session on Monday, under the chairmanship of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, the Saudi energy minister.