Are you an economist? This is not how economics works. It's frustrating to see overly-simplistic statements passed off as facts by supposed "experts" on HN.
The actual economics is way more complicated.
Some thoughts to ponder:
1) Why don't other countries oil-producing nations try to minimize their own oil consumption in a similar way?
2) Why don't other countries do the same with whatever natural resource they have an abundance of?
Yeah, its a moral thing, and also to a degree an economic diversification policy. Saudi is actually doing a similar thing, trying to encourage non-oil industry.
The actual economics is way more complicated.
Some thoughts to ponder:
1) Why don't other countries oil-producing nations try to minimize their own oil consumption in a similar way?
2) Why don't other countries do the same with whatever natural resource they have an abundance of?