Saudi Arabia Launches Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism to Advance Global Climate Goals 

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaks during the opening Ceremony of the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 8, 2023. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaks during the opening Ceremony of the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 8, 2023. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism to Advance Global Climate Goals 

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaks during the opening Ceremony of the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 8, 2023. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman speaks during the opening Ceremony of the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 8, 2023. (Reuters)

The Clean Development Mechanism Designated National Authority (CDMDNA) announced on Monday the launch of Saudi Arabia's domestic market mechanism, Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism (GCOM), at MENA Climate Week 2023 that is underway in Riyadh.

The step reflects the Kingdom’s leading role in the region in addressing climate challenges and enabling institutions to tackle their emissions.

It is also part of the Kingdom’s efforts to reduce the impact of climate change, under the directions of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, realizing the environmental sustainability objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The announcement on GCOM is an implementation of the domestic market mechanism announced by Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman at the Saudi Green Initiative held during COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022.

GCOM will be accessible to all entities within the Kingdom, offering an incentive for developing activities in emissions reduction and removal to reach the Kingdom’s ambitious Net-Zero target by 2060.

Abdullah AlSarhan, Secretary General of the Designated National General, said: “We are proud to advance the Kingdom’s climate ambitions through the launch of the Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism.”

“GCOM will enable entities across the Kingdom to meet their goals to reduce and remove emissions, ensuring collective action in our journey towards a sustainable and low-emission future,” he added.

GCOM's approach is both comprehensive and inclusive, allowing entities within the Kingdom to benefit from its domestic market mechanism for emissions management.

In alignment with the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCOM will support achieving the Saudi Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), unlocking a myriad of financial opportunities among national entities striving to meet their climate objectives.



Non-Profit Sector Revenue in Saudi Arabia Reaches $14.5 Billion in 2023

The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA
The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA
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Non-Profit Sector Revenue in Saudi Arabia Reaches $14.5 Billion in 2023

The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA
The total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in Saudi Arabia marked a 33% increase. SPA

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has said that the total revenue of non-profit sector organizations in the Kingdom amounted to SAR54.4 billion ($14.5 Billion) in 2023, marking a 33% increase compared to 2022.

The results, shown in the Non-Profit Sector Bulletin for 2023, indicated that health-related activities recorded the highest growth rate compared to the previous year, contributing 70% of the total revenue of the non-profit sector organizations, followed by education and research activities with a 53% increase, and volunteer brokerage and promotion activities with a 36% rise. These activities were the main contributors to the total revenue of non-profit organizations.

The bulletin also revealed that total expenditures of the non-profit sector reached SAR47 billion in 2023. Health-related activities represented the highest expenditure category, showing a 74% increase, followed by education and research activities with a 55% rise, and environmental activities with a 34% increase compared to 2022. These activities were the leading contributors to the total expenditures of non-profit organizations.

The figures also underscored the relative contribution of employed individuals to key activities within the non-profit sector in 2023. Cultural and entertainment activities led with a 27.6%, followed by social services activities at 27.2%, development and housing activities at 12.4%, health activities at 11.5%, and education and research activities at 7.5%. The remaining non-profit sector activities accounted for the remaining 13.8%.