PARIS — Long decried as one of the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses and a notorious blocker at international climate negotiations, Saudi Arabia is now positioning itself as a leader in the global energy transition, with hydrogen at the heart of its strategy.

Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s accession to power in 2017, Riyadh has showered the region with announcements of high-profile “green” mega projects. The kingdom also declared its ambition to turn into one of the largest exporters of hydrogen, presented as a sustainable alternative to oil and gas. It has since taken steps toward that transition and invested massively in export-oriented hydrogen projects, unveiling plans to open the world’s largest green hydrogen plant in the futuristic megacity NEOM.

Yet this grand green transition has murkier undertones. As it bets on hydrogen, Saudi Arabia is hoping to usher in a new economic order compatible with mounting calls for decarbonization: one in which former fossil fuel giants, converted into hydrogen exporters, manage to retain their crucial role at the heart of global energy networks. Can this bet pay off? And what’s at stake for Saudi Arabia and other economies in the region?

From climate obstruction to action