Saudia Arabia wants money for compensation if we go away from oil.

Well is it just me who thinks this is pretty retarded.

Article from NY times

Article from COP15's webside

Nope, this is stupid. You don't pay for NOT using a material, otherwise lumberjacks would be calling around houses going "you didn't build a bookcase today, I believe you owe me money for the wood you didn't buy from me," or as the NY article says, people having to pay the tobacco industry for NOT smoking.

I understand their concern, but all it means is they need to find another source of revenue. This is just a ploy to stonewall proceedings, slow down discussions and climate change concerns so that they can push more oil out and boost their own revenue temporarily. They can't seriously expect to win.

This is what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket. I say tough shit for not thinking ahead. It is not as though they were spreading the wealth themselves.

This is hilarious because it will never happen. I don't blame the Saudis though, almost their entire economy is based on oil exports. In all honestly there isn't anything else there, the country is a huge desert. Aside from oil they have small fishing industries in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf and tourism, most of which happens during the Hajj. It's pretty clear that if and when the west goes away from oil Saudi Arabia will become Yemen if they don't invest their riches now.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Lmao, this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. They can seriously not expect to be taken seriously on this.

Weird.

They are just trying to avoid being fucked over pretty soon once we start moving away from oil. (hopefully sooner rather than later)

They've got serious huevos for trying at the very least.