Eamon Ryan criticises Saudis for spending more on football and golf than climate change

“They spent €2bn on golf the previous year. Again, some of that could go to help the most desperate, hungry people in the world.”  

Mr Ryan said that he did not want to single out a specific country, but that the funds Saudi Arabia is using are coming from fossil fuel profits.

The environment minister said that while other countries, including Britain, spend significant sums of money on players, these funds are generally not raised through fossil fuel profits.

Currently, Saudi Arabia is the second-largest producer of oil on a daily basis, with over 12m barrels being produced every day.

“Could we not redirect some of those profits, and we could start it on a voluntary basis, it’s the sort of idea that we’re sharing, that those countries invest in the switch to clean energy,” Mr Ryan said.

“€1.7tn this year was invested in clean energy, €1tn was still invested in new fossil fuels. We need to switch from there to there.

“My argument is, rather than spending it on golf, we could spend it on people.” 

Mr Ryan said he would be taking that position to Abu Dhabi this weekend, where he is attending a series of meetings to set up the negotiations ahead of COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.

Ahead of the meetings, Mr Ryan said these discussions are “going to be really difficult”, adding that at present it is “not looking good” ahead of further discussions in Dubai.

“Climate change is hitting hard and as a result of that we’re seeing forced migration, which is putting stresses in Europe, putting stresses in the [United] States,” Mr Ryan added.