The Gulf's Climate Reckoning: Decarbonization, Development, and the Future of the Petro-States

by Justin Dargin

Overview

In a world demanding climate action, the oil-rich Gulf states face a pivotal moment. Can they transform their economies, built on fossil fuels, into sustainable powerhouses? This seminal work offers a comprehensive analysis of how Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are navigating the complex transition towards decarbonization. Examining the intertwined forces of economic necessity, geopolitical shifts, and environmental pressures, the book illuminates the difficult choices and trade-offs these nations face. Through rigorous examination, it reveals the innovative policies, technological advancements, and evolving social contracts shaping the Gulf's energy future, while critically assessing the impact of decarbonization on their macroeconomic growth. This book is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and industry leaders seeking to understand the complexities of the Gulf's energy landscape and its implications for the global fight against climate change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009389532
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/30/2025
Pages:	370
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)

About the Author

Justin Dargin is a Senior Middle East Energy and Climate Scholar at the University of Oxford. He was previously a Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and a Middle East and North Africa Fulbright Scholar specializing in regional energy issues. As a leading authority on Middle East energy and climate policy, he is recognized for his seminal research on the Gulf's energy transition, particularly his pioneering work on developing regional carbon markets in the Gulf region, which earned him the prestigious Harvard University AAA Award. Dr. Dargin is a frequent commentator on Middle East affairs for leading international media outlets and a sought-after advisor to governments and corporations on energy transition and sustainable development strategies.

Table of Contents

Introduction: climate crossroads: gulf decarbonization and the legacy of oil; Part I. The Birth of the Petro-State: How Oil Reshaped the Gulf: 1. The philosophy of oil: theorizing development in the gulf states; 2. Oil and Ambition: the gulf's industrial ascendancy; 3. Modernization and its discontents: climate change, socio-political reform, and demographic anxiety; 4. Geo-strategic norm-shaping and the art of the subsidy; 5. Gaslighting the gulf: the perils of low-priced natural gas; Part II. Reinventing the Petro-State: The Gulf's Race Against the Climate Clock: 6. Shifting sands: the geopolitics of climate diplomacy; 7. From crude to clean: the renewable energy surge; 8. Crafting the future: design pathways for gulf carbon emission reductions; 9. The sixth wave imperative: the gulf's strategic reset for a post-carbon world; Appendix; References; Index.