Saudi Green Initiative Launches 68 Programs

CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Fahd al-Rasheed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Fahd al-Rasheed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Green Initiative Launches 68 Programs

CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Fahd al-Rasheed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Fahd al-Rasheed. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Riyadh Sustainability Strategy announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched over 68 ambitious sustainability initiatives covering five sectors: climate, energy production and efficiency, air quality, and water management.

CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Fahd al-Rasheed said the plan seeks to reduce carbon emissions and increase the share of renewable energy to 50 percent by 2030.

The plan also aims to improve waste management in the city by ensuring that "100% of our waste is used, recycled, recovered, and of course, reused."

It will inject $92 billion in sustainable initiatives and projects for the city and stimulate the private sector with investment opportunities.

Speaking at the Saudi Green Initiative forum, Rasheed said that environmental sustainability initiatives include investing $8 billion for water treatment and $15 billion for waste management projects to recycle waste as raw materials, reuse and convert it into energy by 94 percent.

Rasheed explained that the strategy would save the city's economy between $11 to $17.3 billion due to raising the efficiency of infrastructure, reducing energy and water consumption, and reducing the health bill on improved public health.

"We will increase the share of public transport in the city from 5 percent to 20 percent," he indicated, adding that the government is working to ensure that 30 percent of all vehicles in the capital will be powered by electricity by 2030.



Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)

Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more US cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.

The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. It did not say where the New Jersey walkout was occurring.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

Talks between the coffee chain and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

The union is striking in 10 cities, also including Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season that may impact the company's Christmas sales.

Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach "hundreds of stores" by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

Starbucks began negotiations with the union in April. It said this month it had conducted more than eight bargaining sessions, during which 30 agreements had been reached.

The company operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States, employing about 200,000 workers.