Saudi Arabia and France issued a Joint Communiqué reaffirming their support for an "ambitious, equitable and successful" outcome at the Paris Climate Change Conference in December 2015.
The Communiqué was announced at the second session of the France-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission.
13 October 2015: Saudi Arabia and France issued a Joint Communiqué reaffirming their support for an “ambitious, equitable and successful” outcome at the Paris Climate Change Conference in December 2015. The Communiqué was announced at the second session of the France-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission.
In the Joint Communiqué, the two countries state that the Paris agreement resulting from the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC should “aim to be in line with keeping the likely increase in global average temperature below 2°C from pre-industrial levels.” The agreement also should take into account, they say: the need to ensure sustainable development for all; recognize the importance of both mitigation and adaptation; and promote a long-term transition by all countries towards “low greenhouse-gas emitting development.” This should be done “in a manner that is comprehensive, cost effective, diversified and resilient in the face of the expected impacts of climate change,” according to the statement.
The meeting was co-chaired by Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Saudi Arabia, and French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius. Several other ministers from both countries also attended the session, which took place on 13 October 2015, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in parallel with the Second Saudi-French Business Opportunities Forum.
The two countries signed a number of agreements, including on the allocation of US$2 billion by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in investments to French private funds focusing on renewable energy and small and medium-scale industries (SMIs). Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE) and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) also signed a letter of intent for cooperation in the renewable energy sector.
The third session of the France-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission is planned for March 2016. [Foreign Ministry of France Press Release] [Fabius Speech Transcript] [K.A.CARE Website] [Arab News Article] [2nd Saudi-French Business Opportunities Forum]