LIMA: Setting a target of zero carbon emissions by 2050 is not “realistic,” Saudi Arabia’s chief negotiator at UN talks for a new, world climate pact said in the Peruvian capital Monday.

“The zero-emissions concept — or let’s knock out fossils fuels out of the picture without clear technology diffusion and solid international cooperation programs — does not help the process,” Saudi envoy Khalid Abuleif, told journalists.

“I do not think this is realistic when two billion people do not have access to energy.”

Nations are gathered in Peru to draft the outlines of a pact to curb potentially disastrous global warming by slashing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. The zero-emissions target is one option proposed in a draft negotiating document.

“When you say zero emissions without advancing carbon capture utilization and storage technology, you are sending a signal that is not really beneficial to the process,” insisted Abuleif.

Setting such a target would be “very challenging to the future sustainable development of oil exporters,” he said, adding any deal had to be “realistic and pragmatic.”