Organised in cooperation with GIZ’s H2Diplo office in Riyadh, the Fireside Chat featured two parallel discussions on Energy, Climate, and Sustainability on the evening of 24 April 2024. Together with Christian Krewinkel, Head of Economic Affairs at the German Embassy Riyadh, Director of the Regional Programme Gulf States Philipp Dienstbier moderated the first of these conversations, which took place in English. The second exchange, which took place in Arabic, was moderated by Thomas Schneider, Germany’s Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Nicolas Reeves, Project Manager with the Regional Programme Gulf States.
The fireside chats delivered robust insights into the reasons behind differences between Saudi and German perspectives towards climate change, in addition to unearthing surprising areas where young Germans and Saudis see eye-to-eye. Regarding the latter, all participants in the Arabic-language discussion arrived at a common definition for sustainability: leaving behind better opportunities for the next generation.
As discussion participants delved into the multiple meanings of this statement, however, differences of opinion emerged that underscored the degree to which accomplishing sustainability, defined in this way, depends on who in this next generation one considers oneself responsible for: is it only one’s own children? Is it the sons and daughters of the nation to which one belongs? Or is it indeed the future citizens of the entire world?
Overwhelmingly, Saudi conversation partners indicated that the border of this circle of responsibility is appropriately demarcated at the level of the nation. Our grandfathers went days without food and water, the argument goes, yet due to their hard work and that of our parents, we live comfortable lives. As for our children, the ambitious plans of the present will yield a payoff for them – and if it’s too hot, we can afford to turn on the air conditioning! Clearly, the time before oil and the momentum of Vision 2030, combined with confidence that the comforts of today – namely, air conditioning – will continue to exist in plentiful supply tomorrow, gave KAS’s Saudi conversation partners confidence in arguing that their lifestyles past and present are sustainable.
This insight underscores the value of dialogue, of listening to other perspectives towards challenges with respect to which Germany sometimes gives the impression to know all the answers. Rather than lecture the Gulf about oil production and per-capita carbon footprints, a more fruitful approach could consist of learning from where these countries have come. The oil era brought unimaginable prosperity to the Arabian Peninsula, and its oldest living residents remember the poverty of the time before this black gold. To win over the Gulf states as enthusiastic partners in the energy transition and combatting the climate crisis, perhaps the best entry point is a fireside chat that gently encourages conversation partners to think about widening the circle of responsibility from the nation to the region and eventually the world.