Latest news with #Gascon
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zoe Saldaña reveals she ‘collapsed' at Oscars moments after winning first award
Zoe Saldaña has revealed that she collapsed after she won her first-ever award at the Oscars earlier this year. In March, the 46-year-old actor won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Netflix's Spanish-language film, Emilia Pérez. While she reflected on the event during Wednesday's episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, host Mark Consuelos remembered that after Saldaña won the award, he interviewed her backstage. However, Saldaña confessed that moments after winning her award, she felt sick and fell over. 'I collapsed right after. I lost my voice within an hour after I won the award,' she said during the episode, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. 'I couldn't stand on those heels that I had. All I wanted to do was crawl in bed and maybe cry. I don't know why, I needed to cry.' She continued to recall how she physically felt before and after winning the Oscar. 'Your body is running on pure adrenaline, so you know that your immune system is in optimal condition, but once you know you tell your body that it's over, then everything sort of collapses,' she added. The Guardians of the Galaxy star also said that the awards ceremony has since become a bit of a 'blur' to her. Still, that doesn't change how meaningful it was. 'It was such a beautiful journey leading up to the Oscars. I don't think I was there as myself [that day], my 13-year-old self was there,' Saldaña explained. Emilia Pérez, which entered the Oscars race with 13 nominations, faced immense backlash regarding its stars and portrayal of Mexican culture. In the film, Saldaña portrays Rita, a lawyer who aids a Mexican drug lord (portrayed by Karla Sofía Gascón) in transitioning genders. Shortly before the Oscars, the controversy deepened when Gascón was criticized for past social media posts, which voiced offensive sentiments on topics such as Islam, George Floyd, and the Oscars themselves. Following the resurfacing of the tweets, Gascon issued an apology while also asserting that she had not been 'racist' in her posts. Jacques Audiard, the film's director, was among those to criticize Gascon, describing her approach to the scandal, involving multiple apologies and an hour-long TV interview, as 'self-destructive.' During a backstage Q&A after her Oscar win, Saldaña addressed a journalist from a Mexican news outlet who said that the film's subject matter was 'really hurtful for us Mexicans,' given the country's central role in the narrative. 'First of all, I'm very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended... That was never our intention, we spoke and we came from a place of love and I will stand by that,' the actor said. She also contested the notion that Mexico was the film's focal point, telling the journalist: 'I don't share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico, we weren't making a film about a country, we were making a film about four women.' She said that the characters were 'still very universal women that are struggling every day, that (are) trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find their most authentic voices.' 'So I will stand by that but I'm also always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, and with love and respect, having a great conversation on how Emilia could have been done better,' the actor concluded.
Mint
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
'It will be very difficult': Karla Sofia Gascon on possibility of her return to US
Washington [US], April 28 (ANI): Actress Karla Sofia Gascon talked about her possible return to the US and expressed concern over the trans community "losing their freedom" around the world. She also talked about her film 'Emilia Perez', according to The Hollywood Reporter. Gascon, the first trans woman to be nominated for a Best Actress in Oscar, had earlier faced backlash over resurfaced tweets containing anti-Islam and racist remarks, and later she apologised for her past actions and expressed her commitment to learning and growth. Gascon, who was on track to make history as the first openly transgender actress to win an Academy Award, saw her chances dashed after journalist Sarah Hagi uncovered her questionable tweets from 2016. The posts, which included derogatory comments about Islam, George Floyd, and the LGBTQ community, sparked widespread outrage and led to a backlash against Gascon. On talking about her possibility of returning to the US, she said in Spanish, which was later translated to, "I'm looking forward to it. The question is whether, when I get to the United States, everything will be okay." She continued, alluding to President Trump's executive orders that targeted transgender, nonbinary and intersex people, "I hope so, but if they don't let me in or they don't let me work because they consider that I am not a sufficiently qualified person or they want to discriminate against me because of my sexuality, then it will be very difficult," as per The Hollywood Reporter. "But I hope so. I'm looking forward to doing millions of things in the United States because I think it's a wonderful country full of something that we have all wished for in this world, which is freedom, and we are losing it. We are losing it," she added, as per the outlet. She also shared how 'Emilia Perez' has changed her life, saying, "Well, it has changed radically because it was a film that, for me, is already part of the history of cinema and that is going to be a cult film. Obviously, that brings with it an implicit responsibility, especially after everything that has happened around the film and around trans people." "I think the moment takes on greater relevance," she added, "and we are in a very complicated and difficult time in which I sincerely feel like one of the first victims of all this hate." She also opened up about her upcoming projects including, an Italian film The Life Lift where she plays a psychiatrist who embodies "the devil and god." She has another film in Argentina, one in Spain, and a French film about a blues singer attempting to adopt a girl from a refugee camp, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Latin America's 12th edition of the Platino Awards was held in Madrid, Spain. (ANI) First Published: 28 Apr 2025, 01:52 PM IST
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Menendez brothers could get freedom under California law signed by Gavin Newsom: expert
As the fate of the Menendez brothers is paused for another month, a legal analyst and trial lawyer says the fact that their freedom is even a discussion is thanks to a new law signed in by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Roger Bonakdar, a California-based attorney, shared with Fox News Digital that after nearly 35 years behind bars, Erik and Lyle Menendez were given new hope to leave prison behind thanks to former Los Angeles County George Gascon and the passing of AB 600. The law allows individuals who remain incarcerated under sentences that were imposed when harsher, less flexible laws were in effect, to petition for a review of their sentences, so they can benefit from more recent legislative reforms that focus on rehabilitation, according to the law's text. "What's happening is that the prior DA Gascon, infamous for certain policies and practices that he instituted in LA County which many credit with the explosion of violent crime and theft in LA, had filed a motion with the court to have the Menendez brothers re-sentenced," Bonakdar explained. Menendez Brothers Case: What's Next For Killers After Defense, Da Spar Over Resentencing Bonakdar said that Gascon's argument was that the Menendez brothers are "allegedly no longer a threat to the community and that they've served their debt to society," because of their ages at the time of their conviction and sentence. Read On The Fox News App "Gascon also apparently made a point of their defense, which didn't fly at trial, about their alleged sexual abuse at the hands of their now-murdered father. So, what's happening now is that the current DA has sought leave of court to withdraw or to take back Gascon's motion because he doesn't believe that the Menendez brothers are worthy or deserving of re-sentencing, and that's what's before the court." Bonakdar said what makes this hearing even more interesting is that the judge's powers are "pretty broad" and he can "re-sentence them based on an offense that they weren't convicted of." "The judge can even sentence them according to what is called a lesser included offense. That means an offense that acts are part of, or otherwise included in, the charge they went to trial on, which could include second-degree murder, even voluntary manslaughter, arguably under the statute. I would imagine the judge would be hard-pressed to go that far. But the powers that are given to a judge under the new statute are pretty sweeping. His discretion is very broad." The Menendez brothers and their supporters have been pushing for a resentencing hearing, saying the brothers were unfairly convicted to life in prison in 1996 for murdering their two parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Menendez Brothers Attorney's Focus On Grisly Photos Part Of Strategic Defense Play To Free Killers: Experts Their first trial ended in a mistrial, when jurors couldn't agree on their fate. After a second trial in the mid-1990s, in which some of their evidence about the alleged sexual abuse was excluded, jurors agreed with prosecutors that their motive was greed. If the judge decides to resentence the Menendez brothers, it will then be up to the state parole board to consider their release. Because they were under 26 years old at the time of the murders, under current California law, new sentences of 50 years to life would immediately make them eligible for a parole hearing. "If this goes fully their way, they could be granted parole and be released. Their sentence could be commuted," Bonakdar said. "And the reason for that is there have been certain changes in California law which allow certain offenders, if they were young enough at the time they were convicted to seek re-sentencing under these compassionate release rules that say that, for example, if you were under the age of 26 at the the time of the commission, or if you had certain other mitigating circumstances, you're eligible to apply to the court for relief." Bonakdar added that what's unique here is that Gascon affirmatively filed for the relief, and that the judge rejected current DA Nathan Hochman's attempt to pull back Gascon's motion. Menendez Brothers' Aunt Hospitalized After Da Shares Graphic Photos In Court: 'There Was No Warning' "This is pretty important because under the new law, it says that where the government, where the prosecutor moves for the release, it actually entitles the defendant, the convict, to the benefit of a presumption, meaning that the person who's seeking the reduction of sentence starts off with a presumptive that they are eligible or that they should be granted parole. So that's something that's pretty unique and is not clear from what the judge ruled when rejecting Hochman's request to withdraw that initial motion," Bonakdar said. What also sets this whole hearing and saga apart from others is that the Menendez brothers "definitely have a leg up over your average criminal defendant," Bonakdar said. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X "First of all, obviously they had resources going into this. They had hired top flight lawyers. They threw everything in the kitchen sink at this trial," Bonakdar said about their trials in the '90s. "They went the distance and even testified in their criminal trials. So it's not surprising that a defendant who had that level of resources and put in that level of effort might be seeking relief now." Bonakdar said that the biggest thing, though, is that Gascon affirmatively filed the motion. "There is the argument that these defendants could have sought the clemency otherwise or filed a motion based on the change in the statute. The fact that Gascon, the former district attorney, filed this independently and affirmatively on behalf of these defendants really gives them a leg up going into the hearing. Most other defendants won't have that benefit," Bonakdar explained. SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter Hochman has strongly opposed the resentencing, put in motion by Gascon, but said he would consider it if both brothers "sincerely and unequivocally admit, for the first time in over 30 years, the full range of their criminal activity and all the lies that they have told about it." He said in a previous statement that the brothers "have chosen to stubbornly remain hunkered down in their over 30-year-old bunker of lies, deceit, and denials," and that it's up to the court to factor in whether the "lack of acceptance of responsibility for their murderous actions" is enough to decide whether the Menendez brothers pose an unreasonable risk of danger to the community. Bonakdar said, in his opinion and viewpoint, that there are "aggravating factors out there that the judge could consider and probably should" before making his decision in May. "Premeditated murder is an extremely serious and obviously by its nature, violent offense. And particularly, if you've got the mental ability to process the idea of murdering both your parents in cold blood, that's a grave public safety concern," Bonakdar said. "The arguments on the other side are that at some point, time does heal wounds and that people can be rehabilitated and everyone is worthy of redemption. This is the argument that will be made on behalf of the Menendez brothers. While that may be true in some instances, I guess that remains to be seen for the Menéndez boys." Watch On Fox Nation: Menendez Brothers: Victims Or Villains? One of the roadblocks holding up the hearing stemmed from the Comprehensive Risk Assessment (CRA) report, which was a psychological exam ordered by Newsom's office and has become the biggest hurdle for the defense to overcome. The brothers' attorney, Mark Geragos, filed a recusal motion against Hochman following Judge Michael Jesic's decision to reschedule their hearings until May. A recusal motion requests that the individual steps away from a case because of a potential conflict of interest or bias that prevents them from operating impartially. GO HERE FOR REAL-TIME UPDATES FROM THE Fox True Crime Hub There was also an accusation of a Marsy's Law violation, which protects victims' families, that took place when prosecutors showed graphic crime scene photos of the murder, that led to the hospitalization of an elderly aunt of the brothers, and something that family members claimed that they had never seen in 35 years. Hochman's office said prosecutors did not intend to "cause distress or pain" to those in attendance at the hearing. "To the extent that the photographic depiction of this conduct upset any of the Menendez family members present in court, we apologize for not giving prior warning that the conduct would be described in detail not only in words but also through a crime scene photo," Hochman's office wrote in a previous statement shared with Fox News Digital. The judge declined the Menendez team's request for the DA to be admonished for showing the crime photos, but asked both sides to provide warning. "It is extremely rare…where you have victims also supporting the defendants," Jesic said. "I didn't even think about it when the picture went up." "It was a gruesome murder," he continued. "If anyone is uncomfortable, maybe they shouldn't be here." Lyle and Erik Menendez will be back in court on May 9 as the decision of whether they will be released hangs in the balance. They are already scheduled to appear before the parole board on June 13 as part of the CRA report ordered by Newsom, who is considering the brothers' clemency request – a separate potential path out of prison. Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment. Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report. Original article source: Menendez brothers could get freedom under California law signed by Gavin Newsom: expert
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Menendez brothers could get freedom under California law signed by Gavin Newsom: expert
LOS ANGELES – As the fate of the Menendez brothers is paused for another month, a legal analyst and trial lawyer says the fact that their freedom is even a discussion is thanks to a new law signed in by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Roger Bonakdar, a California-based attorney, shared with Fox News Digital that after nearly 35 years behind bars, Erik and Lyle Menendez were given new hope to leave prison behind thanks to former Los Angeles County George Gascon and the passing of AB 600. The law allows individuals who remain incarcerated under sentences that were imposed when harsher, less flexible laws were in effect, to petition for a review of their sentences, so they can benefit from more recent legislative reforms that focus on rehabilitation, according to the law's text. "What's happening is that the prior DA Gascon, infamous for certain policies and practices that he instituted in LA County which many credit with the explosion of violent crime and theft in LA, had filed a motion with the court to have the Menendez brothers re-sentenced," Bonakdar explained. Bonakdar said that Gascon's argument was that the Menendez brothers are "allegedly no longer a threat to the community and that they've served their debt to society," because of their ages at the time of their conviction and sentence. "Gascon also apparently made a point of their defense, which didn't fly at trial, about their alleged sexual abuse at the hands of their now-murdered father. So, what's happening now is that the current DA has sought leave of court to withdraw or to take back Gascon's motion because he doesn't believe that the Menendez brothers are worthy or deserving of re-sentencing, and that's what's before the court." Bonakdar said what makes this hearing even more interesting is that the judge's powers are "pretty broad" and he can "re-sentence them based on an offense that they weren't convicted of." "The judge can even sentence them according to what is called a lesser included offense. That means an offense that acts are part of, or otherwise included in, the charge they went to trial on, which could include second-degree murder, even voluntary manslaughter, arguably under the statute. I would imagine the judge would be hard-pressed to go that far. But the powers that are given to a judge under the new statute are pretty sweeping. His discretion is very broad." The Menendez brothers and their supporters have been pushing for a resentencing hearing, saying the brothers were unfairly convicted to life in prison in 1996 for murdering their two parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Their first trial ended in a mistrial, when jurors couldn't agree on their fate. After a second trial in the mid-1990s, in which some of their evidence about the alleged sexual abuse was excluded, jurors agreed with prosecutors that their motive was greed. If the judge decides to resentence the Menendez brothers, it will then be up to the state parole board to consider their release. Because they were under 26 years old at the time of the murders, under current California law, new sentences of 50 years to life would immediately make them eligible for a parole hearing. "If this goes fully their way, they could be granted parole and be released. Their sentence could be commuted," Bonakdar said. "And the reason for that is there have been certain changes in California law which allow certain offenders, if they were young enough at the time they were convicted to seek re-sentencing under these compassionate release rules that say that, for example, if you were under the age of 26 at the the time of the commission, or if you had certain other mitigating circumstances, you're eligible to apply to the court for relief." Bonakdar added that what's unique here is that Gascon affirmatively filed for the relief, and that the judge rejected current DA Nathan Hochman's attempt to pull back Gascon's motion. "This is pretty important because under the new law, it says that where the government, where the prosecutor moves for the release, it actually entitles the defendant, the convict, to the benefit of a presumption, meaning that the person who's seeking the reduction of sentence starts off with a presumptive that they are eligible or that they should be granted parole. So that's something that's pretty unique and is not clear from what the judge ruled when rejecting Hochman's request to withdraw that initial motion," Bonakdar said. What also sets this whole hearing and saga apart from others is that the Menendez brothers "definitely have a leg up over your average criminal defendant," Bonakdar said. "First of all, obviously they had resources going into this. They had hired top flight lawyers. They threw everything in the kitchen sink at this trial," Bonakdar said about their trials in the '90s. "They went the distance and even testified in their criminal trials. So it's not surprising that a defendant who had that level of resources and put in that level of effort might be seeking relief now." Bonakdar said that the biggest thing, though, is that Gascon affirmatively filed the motion. "There is the argument that these defendants could have sought the clemency otherwise or filed a motion based on the change in the statute. The fact that Gascon, the former district attorney, filed this independently and affirmatively on behalf of these defendants really gives them a leg up going into the hearing. Most other defendants won't have that benefit," Bonakdar explained. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Hochman has strongly opposed the resentencing, put in motion by Gascon, but said he would consider it if both brothers "sincerely and unequivocally admit, for the first time in over 30 years, the full range of their criminal activity and all the lies that they have told about it." He said in a previous statement that the brothers "have chosen to stubbornly remain hunkered down in their over 30-year-old bunker of lies, deceit, and denials," and that it's up to the court to factor in whether the "lack of acceptance of responsibility for their murderous actions" is enough to decide whether the Menendez brothers pose an unreasonable risk of danger to the community. Bonakdar said, in his opinion and viewpoint, that there are "aggravating factors out there that the judge could consider and probably should" before making his decision in May. "Premeditated murder is an extremely serious and obviously by its nature, violent offense. And particularly, if you've got the mental ability to process the idea of murdering both your parents in cold blood, that's a grave public safety concern," Bonakdar said. "The arguments on the other side are that at some point, time does heal wounds and that people can be rehabilitated and everyone is worthy of redemption. This is the argument that will be made on behalf of the Menendez brothers. While that may be true in some instances, I guess that remains to be seen for the Menéndez boys." One of the roadblocks holding up the hearing stemmed from the Comprehensive Risk Assessment (CRA) report, which was a psychological exam ordered by Newsom's office and has become the biggest hurdle for the defense to overcome. The brothers' attorney, Mark Geragos, filed a recusal motion against Hochman following Judge Michael Jesic's decision to reschedule their hearings until May. A recusal motion requests that the individual steps away from a case because of a potential conflict of interest or bias that prevents them from operating impartially. GO HERE FOR REAL-TIME UPDATES FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUB There was also an accusation of a Marsy's Law violation, which protects victims' families, that took place when prosecutors showed graphic crime scene photos of the murder, that led to the hospitalization of an elderly aunt of the brothers, and something that family members claimed that they had never seen in 35 years. Hochman's office said prosecutors did not intend to "cause distress or pain" to those in attendance at the hearing. "To the extent that the photographic depiction of this conduct upset any of the Menendez family members present in court, we apologize for not giving prior warning that the conduct would be described in detail not only in words but also through a crime scene photo," Hochman's office wrote in a previous statement shared with Fox News Digital. The judge declined the Menendez team's request for the DA to be admonished for showing the crime photos, but asked both sides to provide warning. "It is extremely rare…where you have victims also supporting the defendants," Jesic said. "I didn't even think about it when the picture went up." "It was a gruesome murder," he continued. "If anyone is uncomfortable, maybe they shouldn't be here." Lyle and Erik Menendez will be back in court on May 9 as the decision of whether they will be released hangs in the balance. They are already scheduled to appear before the parole board on June 13 as part of the CRA report ordered by Newsom, who is considering the brothers' clemency request – a separate potential path out of prison. Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Arab News
28-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia's Circular Carbon Economy Framework is setting a global benchmark for emissions reduction
RIYADH: Introduced during Saudi Arabia's G20 presidency, the Circular Carbon Economy Framework has gained significant traction, advancing emissions cuts, renewable energy investments, and carbon capture efforts. In 2020, G20 leaders endorsed the framework to promote a sustainable, cost-effective approach to addressing climate change while ensuring clean energy access. Building on this, the Kingdom launched its Circular Carbon Economy National Program in 2021 to reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions through strategies of reduction, recycling, reuse, and removal. 'With the creation of the Circular Carbon Economy National Program, Saudi Arabia has made several critical decisions that directly contribute to sustainability and climate change mitigation,' Jorge Gascon, a chemical engineering professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, told Arab News. These decisions include 'policy integration, renewable energy investment, and carbon capture initiatives.' The program also recognizes the importance of natural carbon absorption and sets an ambitious goal to sustainably manage, restore, and preserve 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2040 using all available mitigation strategies. 'Saudi Arabia has embedded the CCE framework into its national policies, notably through the Saudi Green Initiative,' said Gascon. 'The SGI aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 through implementing CCE principles and accelerating the transition to a green economy through emissions reduction, afforestation, and protection of land and sea.' He noted that Saudi Arabia is shifting its energy mix toward sustainability, with a goal of 50 percent renewable energy. • Saudi Arabia has launched more than 30 Circular Carbon Economy initiatives across its energy system. • In 2021, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. • The circular economy reduces fossil fuel reliance, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and boosts energy security. On carbon capture, Gascon said: 'The Kingdom is engaged in international advocacy, notably during its G20 presidency and beyond, as well as various collaborative efforts and knowledge-sharing initiatives through institutions such as KAPSARC and KAUST.' KAUST is a partner in the development of the CCE Strategy, along with Aramco, the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, AEON Strategy, and numerous other organizations. The CCE's development aligns with earlier efforts to promote sustainability. At the Future Investment Initiative forum in 2019, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman discussed the CCE. The following year, at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Riyadh, King Salman introduced the National Program for the Circular Carbon Economy during the 'Safeguarding the Planet' event, urging global cooperation to address climate change 'by developing the economy and increasing human prosperity.' Before the national program, Saudi Arabia had many initiatives focusing on carbon capture and conversion into valuable raw materials. 'Numerous areas of research at KAUST intersect with CCE, including catalysis, clean combustion, advanced membranes, and porous materials,' Gascon said. 'KAUST supported a parallel Circular Carbon Initiative to capture the contributing science and technology.' He added: 'CCE builds on the principles of the circular economy while recognizing that removal must play a key role in achieving this circularity. 'In this way, a 4R (reduce, reuse, recycle, remove) approach is proposed to manage carbon emissions effectively, resulting in a closed loop that minimizes waste and CO2 emissions.' Gascon highlighted that 'the paradigm shift of the CCE occurs when we recognize carbon as a friend rather than an enemy.' Through the Circular Carbon Economy Framework and various energy initiatives, Saudi Arabia is strategically establishing itself as a global leader in CCE. This position is backed by the Kingdom's abundant natural resources, significant technological investments and a strong commitment to sustainable development. Majed Al-Qatari, a sustainability leader, ecological engineer, and UN youth ambassador, said that since the G20 launch of the CCE framework, 'Saudi Arabia has introduced relevant and impactful initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the National Renewable Energy Program.' He told Arab News that 'these bold efforts demonstrate tangible progress in reducing emissions, investing in renewable energy and deploying carbon capture technologies.' Al-Qatari cited NEOM, one of the Kingdom's flagship projects, as a 'real-world testing ground for these efforts, embedding zero-carbon infrastructure, smart energy systems, and net-zero mobility.' He added: 'In 2025 and beyond, I expect further scaling of blue and green hydrogen projects, along with enhanced regional cooperation in carbon management.' Al-Qatari also highlighted the four pillars of the CCE framework: reduce, reuse, recycle, and remove. 'The Kingdom applies this through initiatives like energy efficiency standards (reduce), CO2 utilization in industrial processes (reuse), circular water reuse in agriculture (recycle), and large-scale carbon capture and storage projects such as those by Aramco/SABIC (remove),' he said. Asked what he believes was the motivating factor for Saudi Arabia's adoption of the Circular Carbon Economy Framework during the G20, Al-Qatari said: 'Saudi Arabia sought to play a leading role in advancing a global dialogue that aligns climate goals with economic mandates. 'The CCE framework was introduced in order to showcase an inclusive, technologically neutral mechanism that takes into account relevant pathways to mitigate carbon emissions without compromising energy security or economic development.' Al-Qatari noted that the framework has become a global reference model, particularly for hydrocarbon-reliant economies. 'The framework offers a transition pathway that is practical and inclusive of conventional sources of energy like oil and gas while advancing climate goals,' he said. 'Other jurisdictions are considering the Kingdom's model in order to customize it for their local contexts.' Looking to the future, Al-Qatari highlighted Saudi Arabia's target of net-zero emissions by 2060. 'Such targets will be fostered by innovation, renewables, hydrogen, carbon management, and circular practices,' he said. 'Future goals would involve expanding circularity practices into other sectors and materials such as water, and waste sectors, while also crystallizing local environmental, social, and governance markets and strengthening regulatory frameworks for corporate sustainability and sustainable finance.' When asked about the role of innovation and technology in advancing CCE, Gascon stressed KAUST's importance in research and development. 'KAUST is pioneering breakthroughs in CO2 capture, including direct air capture, cryogenic CO2 capture, and other point-source technologies, as well as nature-based carbon sequestration strategies and geological storage solutions,' he said. 'It also drives advancements in synthetic fuels, such as clean ammonia and hydrogen carriers, alongside the integration of renewable energy and the optimization of industrial processes. 'KAUST collaborates with industry leaders, including Saudi Aramco and NEOM, to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and sustainable fuel technologies.' Gascon emphasized that KAUST's research and public-private partnerships align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 sustainability goals. 'Implementing national policies, such as Vision 2030, ensures strategic alignment with circular economy principles, focusing on reducing pollution and improving resource utilization,' he said.
