Saudi Arabia is driving a huge global investment plan to create demand for its oil and gas in developing countries, an undercover investigation has revealed. Critics said the plan was designed to get countries “hooked on its harmful products”.

Little was known about the oil demand sustainability programme (ODSP) but the investigation obtained detailed information on plans to drive up the use of fossil fuel-powered cars, buses and planes in Africa and elsewhere, as rich countries increasingly switch to clean energy.

  • Th4tGuyII@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    1 year ago

    You mean to tell me a country who’s entire luxury lifestyle is based almost solely off of oil money has a vested interest in keeping that money flowing no matter the ethical implications?? - colour me shocked!

    • ExLisper@linux.communityOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      The infuriating thing is not that Saudis are doing this. The infuriating part is that the west still treats then like allies and protects them.

      • Hyperreality@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        If politicians threaten Saudi Arabia’s interests, they cut production just before an election, and dumb voters blame the government trying to curtail their influence.

        So you can blame western governments, but western voters are just as much to blame.

        • BruceTwarzen@kbin.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          1 year ago

          I’ll never not find it funny that americans think the president has two buttons that says: make gas expensive and make gas cheap

        • P1r4nha@feddit.de
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          0
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          It’s not wrong. Voters need to demand an infrastructure and options that allow them to not compromise their values when leading a normal life.

  • naturalgasbad@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    The only thing that will meaningfully drive people away from fossil fuels is cheaper, greener alternatives. The lack of investment in the West into making affordable options is leaving the door wide open for big oil producers… You can’t deny a country their opportunity to develop, improve living standards, and pull people out of poverty for some nebulous “greater good” while you, with your brand new Tesla and brand new iPhone flying across the country in business on a brand new Boeing 787, talk about switching to clean energy. You need to make clean energy the economical choice in the first place.

  • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    Solar is dropping in cost so fast and production is increasing so rapidly that in tandem with available modern connectivity/tech tutorials, I think the practical appeal of sustainable energy will outstrip corporate greed and national conspiracies of the sort mentioned in this article.

    • thecrotch@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      practical appeal of sustainable energy will outstrip corporate greed

      Nah it’ll just migrate to the battery manufacturers

    • AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      1 year ago

      I reallllllly want solar. I have enough roof space that I think it might be entirely possible to offset my monthly usage and then some with the right investment.

      Unfortunately, some 3000+ kW/mo costs me ~$170/mo and currently the best solar I could price out was going to run me quadruple that at best, with concessions.

      I’m fine if it was…say…double the cost, but at the moment it just doesn’t make financial sense.

      Problem is…it comes down to timing and then it just feels like trying to time the stock market. I suppose I’ll just do it one of these days…

      • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        Solar surplus depots is what you want.

        The solar surplus stores remove “old” large installations from warehouses or universities and replace them with the newest panels, clean and check the solar panels they removed,put them in their warehouse, and then you can buy these three-year-old panels that still have near 100% efficiency for half the price at maximum, and usually cheaper.

        I covered the roof of an RV with 200 watt panels that were $30 each and all five panels are still working today.

        150 for 5 panels, 200 for a new inverter, 120 or so for the charge controller, a couple batteries and the RV had 1000kW for about $700 for about 4 years now. You want 3000kW, so your price will go up, maybe $2000 for the equipment, and then you just add installation costs if you’re doing grid-tie.

        You can call around and see if the handymen in your area know how to do installation for a reasonable fee if you don’t want to do it yourself, but a surplus solar depot is the way to get cheap, quality solar.

          • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            Sure thing. It’s even worth it to drive a couple states over if you find a solid reseller, because the savings are so good and none of the technology has moving parts so it all works forever. Good luck, it’s so cool to have a working solar system.

  • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    1 year ago

    Their plan to hike up the prices is probably going to work for limited time only or they are feeling that migration to clean energy already. Could be both as well.

  • Nacktmull@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    They are ready to kill all of us, just to make more money and they know exactly what they are doing, there are no excuses.