What do you know about the Green Saudi Initiative?

To complement the Kingdom’s great efforts in the field of environment and water. KSA has launched the Green Saudi Initiative. As part of efforts to combat climate change. And to support the Kingdom and the region by providing a clear roadmap to reduce carbon emissions. And because the Kingdom is ranked as a leading global oil producer. It is fully aware of its share of responsibility in advancing the fight against the climate crisis.

The new initiatives come on the heels of efforts to protect the planet that was announced during the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 Summit in which a dedicated environmental declaration was issued. Where the concept of a circular carbon economy was adopted; The first Environmental Working Group was established. Two global initiatives to reduce land degradation and protect coral reefs were also launched at the event.

Reasons for launching the Green Saudi Initiative

Saudi Arabia and the region face “significant climatic challenges”. Such as desertification, which is a direct economic risk to the Kingdom and the region (US$13 billion is currently lost due to dust storms in the region each year).

It is also estimated that air pollution from greenhouse gases has shortened the life expectancy of Saudis by 1.5 years.

Axes that promote the goals of the initiative

• Consolidate the efforts of the public and private sectors to identify and support opportunities for cooperation and innovation.
• Promoting the green economy – the first package. Which includes more than 60 new initiatives and projects within the framework of the Green Saudi Initiative, an important investment in this context.
• Accelerate the green transition and take a global leader in implementing the concept of a circular carbon economy.
• Raising the level of quality of life and protecting the environment for future generations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Green Initiative will reduce carbon emissions by more than 4% from global contributions. Through an ambitious renewable energy program that will generate 50% of the Kingdom’s energy from renewable energy sources by 2030. And many other projects in the areas of clean hydrocarbon technologies. Prince Mohammed bin Salman said: “It is expected to eliminate more than 130 million tons of carbon emissions, in addition to raising the rate of waste diversion from landfills to 94% in the Kingdom.”

Many programs for a better future

The initiative also includes several ambitious programs. Most notably the planting of 10 billion trees inside the Kingdom in the coming decades. This is equivalent to rehabilitating nearly 40 million hectares of degraded land. This translates to a 12-fold increase over the current tree cover in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Crown Prince added that this represents the Kingdom’s contribution of more than 4% to achieving the goals of the global initiative to reduce the degradation of land and wild habitats. 1% of the global target is to plant 1 trillion trees. The comprehensive regional tree-planting program (with 50 billion trees) is claimed to be the largest reforestation program in the world. Twice the size of the Great Green Wall in the Sahel (the second largest such regional initiative).

The Kingdom will also work to raise the percentage of protected areas to more than 30% of its total land area. Approximately 600,000 square kilometers, exceeding the current global target of 17%.

It will also launch several initiatives to protect marine and coastal environments.

Green Middle East Initiative

Under the announced second program – the Middle East Green Initiative – Saudi Arabia will work in coordination with the neighboring and brotherly countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Middle East countries. To plant an additional 40 billion trees in the Middle East.

The project will restore an area equivalent to 200 million hectares of degraded land. Which is 5% of the global goal to plant one trillion trees and cut 2.5% of global carbon levels.

The initiative also seeks to increase the share of clean energy production in the Middle East. From the current 7% through the exchange of knowledge about advanced technologies. That will contribute to reducing carbon emissions from hydrocarbon production in the region by more than 60%. These joint efforts will aim to reduce carbon emissions by more than 10 percent of global contributions.

The Green Saudi Initiative reflects the Kingdom’s position in protecting the earth

The initiative comes as a continuation of the recent environmental efforts in the Kingdom in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. It attests to the Kingdom’s serious desire to confront the environmental challenges it faces. From rising temperatures and dust waves to lower levels of rain and desertification. In this regard, the Kingdom has implemented a comprehensive restructuring of the environmental sector.

It established the Environmental Special Forces in 2019. It raised the percentage of nature reserves from 4% to more than 14% and increased vegetation cover by 40% in the past four years. The Kingdom was also able to achieve the most efficient levels of carbon emissions from hydrocarbon-producing countries. In addition to other initiatives that have already started on the ground and have resulted in tangible positive results on the environment. All of this is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance public health and raise the quality of life for its citizens and residents.

The first phase of the initiative

In the first phase of afforestation initiatives, more than 450 million trees were planted. Rehabilitation of (8) million hectares of degraded lands. And allocating lands for a new protected area, bringing the total protected areas in the Kingdom to more than (20%) of its total area.

Details of the objectives of the Green Saudi Initiative

• Reducing carbon emissions by more than 4% of global contributions, through an ambitious renewable energy program that will generate 50% of the Kingdom’s energy from renewable energy sources by 2030.
• Planting 10 billion trees inside the Kingdom in the coming decades (rehabilitating nearly 40 million hectares of degraded land). 12 times more tree cover than the current in Saudi Arabia.
• The Kingdom’s contribution of more than 4% to achieving the goals of the global initiative to reduce land degradation and wild habitats. and 1% of the global target is to plant one trillion trees.
• Raising the proportion of protected areas to more than 30% of the total area of ​​its land, that is, nearly 600 thousand square kilometers.
• Exceeding the current global target of 17%.
• Launching several initiatives to protect marine and coastal environments.
• Coordination with neighboring and brotherly countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Middle East countries to plant an additional 40 billion trees in the Middle East.
• Increasing the share of clean energy production in the Middle East from 7% through the use of advanced technologies in reducing carbon emissions from hydrocarbon production in the region by more than 60%. Reducing them by more than 10% of global contributions.