Saudi Arabia’s Plastic Policy; “Let the Demands Remain” [Part I]

The United Nations’ efforts to mitigate the proliferation of plastic in talks with Saudi Arabia in December had no better ending than a failure. Western nations are searching for measures to prevent Riyadh from undermining the upcoming phase of negotiations, which is scheduled for the current year.

Yet that is unlikely to be a simple job as the world’s agreement on protecting the environment erodes. with the inauguration of Donald Trump into the White House next week, the tendency is probably going to get harsher.

The largest supplier of crude oil worldwide is Saudi Arabia. The driving force of a coalition of oil-rich countries, which also included Russia as another oil giant, was effective in obstructing the December negotiations. The focus of the initiatives was on reducing the manufacture of plastic. Furthermore, there’s no explanation to doubt that they go through similar policies in the next round of negotiations.

A diplomat from the western alliance said Riyadh has recently initiated significant investments in ecological policy. According to the unnamed source, hardly any parties can claim to have such a skilled group of diplomats.

Oil is crucial for countries like Saudi Arabia, whose economy is reliant on hydrocarbons. The planet gradually transitions from gas-powered to electric vehicles. Under such circumstances, the polymer sector, which generates $700 billion annually, is expected to grow into a major contributor to the worldwide demand for oil.

However, a larger group of nations, including the European Union, believe that the use of plastic poses a greater hazard. Seas and streams throughout the planet are being choked by plastics, which are also making their way into nourishment, the ground, and human tissue as microplastics. In an effort to save the environment, the group were pushed to take part in the discussions.

Participants who have worked with the Saudi negotiation delegation claim it’s obvious that every penny was spent to assemble the skilled group of pro-plastic defenders. It has made it possible for less wealthy oil-producing nations who are anxious about the results of the new deal to approach Saudi policymakers for guidance.

According to another person in the negotiation team, Riyadh has an incentive for governing the Arab team. Throughout the discussions, the nation has employed every delay tactic imaginable. All of the GCC nations were willing to take the microphone again anytime Riyadh made an argument. Whatever Saudi Arabia stated, they would be repeating exactly. Thus, throughout the negotiations, the Western side has already wasted an hour reiterating the same argument.

Both Iran and Russia were strong partners of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, they were instrumental in opposing an extensive plastic pact. It is obvious that Moscow has assumed the task of conducting constant interference. According to the second source, Moscow supplied incomprehensible paperwork and other such items. another source detailed the Russian endless, roughly half-hour-long, behind-closed-door discussions. After Saudi Arabia, Moscow is the world’s second-largest supplier of crude oil.

The Russian and Saudi diplomats turned down many media demands for response. Riyadh was accused by many negotiators of attempting to create division among the western nations. Riyadh’s primary tactic was to inflame the already delicate subject of how to pay for the agreement.

(to be continued)