Energy security must be for all, Oman tells G20 forum

SALT LAKE CITY: Dr Mohammed bin Said al Maamari, Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, called on G20 leaders to adopt energy and development policies that safeguard supply security, expand opportunities and preserve the rights of future generations, as Oman took part in the G20 Interfaith Forum in Salt Lake City, United States.
Speaking at a plenary session titled 'Energy Policies, Religion, Peace, and Human Prosperity', Al Maamari urged leaders to recognise religious and community institutions as essential partners in shaping and implementing transformation pathways. The forum was held under the theme 'Resilient Hope, Shared Future'.
He said energy security in an interconnected world could not be achieved for anyone unless it was achieved for all, and that sharing resources meant sharing responsibility for them, turning them into a force for cooperation and a path towards shared prosperity and peace.
Al Maamari discussed the relationship between energy resources and the values of equity, sustainability and peace, stressing the importance of turning resources into shared prosperity that preserves human dignity and the rights of future generations. Balancing supply security, affordability and environmental protection was not only a technical and economic question, he said, but was also linked to moral values established by religions: using resources without harming others or the environment, or depriving future generations of their rights.
Achieving energy security and sustainable development required fairness in the distribution of resources, lasting benefits and trust in the fulfilment of commitments, he said. Priority should be given to communities not yet reached by energy services, and abundance and sustainability could complement each other through moderation and the reduction of waste and environmental harm.
He said the concept of stewardship placed humanity in a position of responsibility for the Earth and its resources, requiring decisions to take into account affected communities and the generations that would inherit their outcomes. From a religious perspective, prosperity was measured by human dignity and peace was a paramount goal, with religious and traditional leaders playing a role in building trust and understanding among communities.
The minister reviewed Oman's centuries-long interaction with the peoples of the world through maritime navigation, referring to Omani-American relations established by the Treaty of 1833 and the arrival of the Omani ship Sultana in New York in 1840, carrying the first Arab envoy to the United States.
He also spoke about the aflaj system, five of which are inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List, and what it embodies in responsible resource management and respect for the rights of others, as well as the waqf (endowment) system, whose impact extends across generations.
Al Maamari said the Omani model of coexistence was based on dialogue, good neighbourliness and mutual respect, citing the contribution of the 'Message of Peace' and 'Human Coexistence' projects in raising awareness of shared human values.
He highlighted the Muscat Plan, launched in June at United Nations headquarters in New York in partnership with the United Nations, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers. The plan was the outcome of a consultative process involving religious and traditional leaders and representatives of indigenous peoples, aimed at enhancing the role of these leaders in conflict prevention and combating hate speech, based on the principle that peace among nations begins with trust within communities.
The forum discussed the role of religious institutions in promoting peace and sustainable development, interfaith dialogue, the ethics of artificial intelligence and contemporary humanitarian challenges, with religious leaders, officials and experts from around the world taking part. — ONA