Iran considering using Switzerland to process its nuclear fuel

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Saudis and other oil producers to finance research into carbon emissions

The oil-rich kingdom also wanted to highlight a new emphasis on protecting the environment by announcing the establishment of a $750 million fund to reduce carbon emissions. Saudi Arabia will contribute $300 million to finance research into technology that captures carbon spewed by power plants or refineries and stores them underground. In addition, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar will provide $150 million each.

Oil producers see climate policies that focus on oil consumption as an unfair way to curb the use of fossil fuels worldwide. By funding research into carbon emissions, Saudi Arabia seeks to find ways to extend the use of petroleum resources at a time when global warming could lead to changes in consumer attitudes in Western countries.

"We want to continue using fossil fuels while protecting the environment," said Mohammad Al Sabban, a senior Saudi government advisor on climate change. "What we are worried about is for industrialized countries to use climate policy as a pretext to discriminate against oil."

Market forces at work. All the Middle East has to sell is oil. If they want to keep selling it, they're going to have to help address the emissions problems.