Possibility of Ratification by 2018: Medium
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the largest producers and exporters of oil resources to the world. At the same time, Saudi Arabia consumes 490 million tons of carbon dioxide, 50% of the total consumption in the Arab World and 1.28% of the world consumption of fossil fuels. As for the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Kingdom has submitted a conditional pledge in November 2015 to cut down carbon dioxide emissions by 130 million tons. The Kingdom has not yet signed the document nor ratified it as of this date, but announced plans to sign the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) or what’s known as Paris Agreement before the Marrakesh COP22 climate summit that will take place in November 2016, as stated by the Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih.
In reference to Article 70 of the constitution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, “the King approves and signs international treaties.” Yet the King makes a decision based on recommendations submitted by the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers, the regulatory authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that examines the international treaty body in consultation with Majlis al-Shura, the legislative part in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Submitted by Climate Scorecard Country Manager Abeer Abdulkareem
Learn more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/08/saudi-arabia-accused-of-trying-to-wreck-the-paris-climate-deal
https://www.shura.gov.sa/wps/wcm/connect/ShuraEn/internet/Laws+and+Regulations/
http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/bsimmons/files/APP_3.2_Ratification_rules.pdf
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2464330/germany-and-saudi-arabia-pledge-to-ratify-paris-deal-in-2016