Islamic Development Bank Approves $391 Million Loan for Tunisia Motorway

Saudi Princess Says Climate Goals and Energy Security Must Go Hand in Hand

RIYADH: Environmental commitments and reliable energy supplies should not be treated as competing priorities, Princess Noura bint Turki Al-Saud told Arab News as she described how Saudi Arabia is pursuing its climate ambitions. Princess Noura is a co-founder of AEON Collective, a non-profit initiative that advocates inclusive and sustainable development. She spoke on the sidelines of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh.

A Balanced Approach

According to Princess Noura, the Kingdom has consistently argued for a balanced energy policy, and global discussions are now giving more weight to supply security. Saudi Arabia aims for an electricity-generation mix of 50 percent natural gas and 50 percent renewable energy by 2030, as it works to reduce its reliance on oil.

“I think the climate ambition has occupied the space for the longest time, without looking at a disconnect with energy security,” she said. In her view, this is where the Kingdom brought a different perspective, reminding the world that energy security and energy affordability cannot be separated from the climate challenge.

Not a Retreat

Some observers say climate change has taken a back seat in global energy talks. Princess Noura rejected that reading. She said it does not necessarily reflect a retreat from environmental commitments, but a reassessment of how climate policies interact with energy markets. The issue, she said, simply consumed the conversation for a long time, and she acknowledged that different countries and groups had raised legitimate concerns.

She argued that energy policy decisions call for expertise and an understanding of market dynamics, rather than an isolated focus on environmental targets. Those decisions, she said, belong with professionals who understand the sector and can make tough calls.

Looking at the Whole Picture

Saudi Arabia has kept investing in its climate plans while recognizing that environmental challenges reach beyond the energy industry, she said. Treating climate in a vacuum, cut off from energy policy, was in her words one of the biggest faults of the past.

Drawing on discussions at the Congress, she stressed the continued need to invest in both traditional and renewable energy. “In the end, it’s not an either-or situation, right? It’s all of the above,” she said. Climate will remain one of the biggest challenges the world faces, she added, but it is a long-term one, and one priority cannot be dropped for the other.

Bringing the Conversation to Everyday Life

Beyond national policy, Princess Noura emphasized the value of public engagement and education. She pointed to AEON Collective’s Tree Library initiative, which encourages meaningful conversations about sustainability, energy and environmental issues, helping people explore these subjects beyond political debates and headlines.

“Not everyone can be an expert in climate policy. Not everyone can be an expert in energy policy,” she said, noting how technical both fields are. The aim, she explained, is to help people think about issues from several angles and understand the situation and the narrative being told. “That’s the most important thing, clarifying the facts. Because in this world, it’s hard to get the right facts.”

Why the Message Matters

Her comments reflect a wider shift in how energy and climate are discussed. Recent global events, including supply disruptions and price swings, have shown how quickly energy security can become a pressing concern for governments and households. At the same time, the long-term risks of climate change have not gone away.

For Saudi Arabia, the 50-50 target for gas and renewables is a concrete expression of that dual focus. Gas offers reliable power in the near term, while renewables are meant to grow steadily and ease dependence on oil.

What to Watch

Several questions will shape the debate ahead. How quickly can renewable capacity expand while supply stays secure? Will investment in traditional and clean energy both keep pace with demand? And can public education efforts, such as the Tree Library, help people sort fact from noise in a crowded information space?

Princess Noura’s message is that these questions need to be answered together, not one at a time. In her view, a workable path combines affordability, security and environmental care, and no single goal can be pursued at the expense of the others.

Also Read:

Google Introduces Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS for Smarter AI-Powered Voices

AMD and World Labs: What the Acquisition Means for Businesses