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Saudi Arabia Combats Climate Change with 65 Initiatives Worth $13 Billion

Participants attending the Saudi Green Initiative Forum discuss efforts by the Kingdom to tackle climate change, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Participants attending the Saudi Green Initiative Forum discuss efforts by the Kingdom to tackle climate change, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
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Saudi Arabia Combats Climate Change with 65 Initiatives Worth $13 Billion

Participants attending the Saudi Green Initiative Forum discuss efforts by the Kingdom to tackle climate change, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Participants attending the Saudi Green Initiative Forum discuss efforts by the Kingdom to tackle climate change, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

Saudi Arabia is participating in the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference - hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy - armed with around 65 initiatives that are worth more than USD13 billion, which are aimed at combatting climate change and developing a relevant environment strategy.

During the opening of the Green Saudi Forum, which was recently held in Riyadh, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman revealed the first package that will contribute to achieving green Saudi initiatives, pointing out that the Kingdom will seek to reduce emissions by more than 270 million tons annually, in addition to a number of other initiatives announced on the sidelines of the summit.

Saudi Arabia’s participation in the ongoing international conference reflects the importance it attaches to climate change and environmental protection, in line with the transformation program within Vision 2030.

The Kingdom has launched a process for structuring its environmental work system, which included the establishment of five environmental centers specialized in meteorology, environmental compliance, biodiversity, plant cover development, combating desertification and managing waste.

A week ago, Riyadh hosted the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, which witnessed the announcement of more than 59 initiatives, and the Green Middle East Initiative summit, in the presence of international stakeholders and regional leaders.

The Ministry of Energy also launched the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Renewable Energy, which seeks to increase the percentage of renewable energy to reach the optimal mix, raise the efficiency of the electricity sector and achieve environmental goals by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, in addition to realizing a set of major economic goals.

The Kingdom aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 by implementing the carbon circular economy approach, through the first set of Green Saudi initiatives, with investments exceeding 700 billion riyals, in order to chart a more sustainable future.

Environmental Expert Dr. Ali Eshqi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom has recently played a major role in fighting global warming by increasing the area of green spaces, which contributes to raising the proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere and reducing carbon dioxide.

On the other hand, the Kingdom’s plans in the field of renewable energy sources included wind and solar energy, which will represent 50 percent of the energy used to produce electricity in the Kingdom by 2030.

Saudi Arabia will also join the Global Methane Pledge to reduce global emissions by 30 percent compared to the level of emissions in 2020.

Efforts to protect the environment and preserve its natural resources included establishing an environment fund to contribute to achieving financial sustainability for this sector, setting up special forces for environmental security, and developing national capabilities in the field of predicting natural disasters and early warning.

Moreover, the Saudi State has established the Council for Royal Reserves to develop natural reserves in six locations in the Kingdom, by raising the percentage of protected areas to more than 30% of the country’s land area, which exceeds the current global target to protect 17% of each country’s lands.

In a more remarkable development, Saudi Arabia has started implementing the first phase of afforestation initiatives, which seeks to plant more than 450 million trees, rehabilitate 8 million hectares of degraded lands and allocate new protected lands, bringing the total protected areas in the Kingdom so far to more than 20 percent of its total surface.

Eshqi said: “If we plant 10 million trees in the Middle East as planned in the Saudi initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we will reach a natural balance with the percentage of existing gases, especially carbon dioxide.”

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture worked on the optimal investment of water wealth through rationalization and the use of treated and renewable water and the establishment of an integrated project for waste recycling, as well as raising the percentage of waste diversion from landfills to 94 percent.

The Kingdom’s pioneering initiatives in the field of climate action include two projects to establish a fund to invest in solutions for circular carbon economy technologies in the region, and a global initiative to provide clean fuel solutions to provide food to more than 750 million people around the world.

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COP29 President to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Aim for Fair Climate Ambitions, Value Saudi Efforts

Security personnel walk outside the venue of the COP29 conference. (AP)
Security personnel walk outside the venue of the COP29 conference. (AP)
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COP29 President to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Aim for Fair Climate Ambitions, Value Saudi Efforts

Security personnel walk outside the venue of the COP29 conference. (AP)
Security personnel walk outside the venue of the COP29 conference. (AP)

The appointed president of the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP29), Mukhtar Babayev, emphasized that the conference has a clear vision to advance ambition and empower action toward achieving the 1.5°C target.

“We aim for fair climate ambitions and sustainable financing,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat, pointing to Saudi Arabia’s efforts in addressing critical climate issues.

Azerbaijan will host COP29 starting Monday, with the conference running through November 22, to address the rising threats of climate change. The top priority will be reaching an agreement on a new climate finance target.

On the eve of the meeting, Babayev told Asharq Al-Awsat that the vision involves “enhancing ambition” by having parties submit Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans, and biennial transparency reports as signals of commitment and guidance on mutual support.

Babayev, who also serves as Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, added that empowering action requires increased climate financing from multiple sources to turn ambitions into concrete actions. Key goals include establishing a fair, ambitious climate finance target, finalizing Article 6 implementation, reforming multilateral development banks to address climate efforts more effectively, and mobilizing the private sector to play a key role, he underlined.

Article 6 is a core component of the Paris Agreement, focusing on the development of carbon markets, where countries, companies, and individuals can trade carbon credits.

Babayev also noted that COP29 has launched its action program, with initiatives to advance various issues beyond the formal negotiations.

“Much of our strategy builds on past progress and prior commitments, from the Paris Agreement to the global stocktake,” he said. “By working closely with parties, including Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Middle East and North Africa, we hope to make real strides this year.”

Geopolitical tensions

Babayev acknowledged that geopolitical tensions present ongoing challenges to global climate action.

However, he said COP29 provides an opportunity to unite countries around a shared goal: addressing climate change.

“As COP29 president, our strategy centers on diplomacy, inclusivity, and practical solutions to ensure that political issues do not hinder progress,” he explained. Climate change affects all countries, creating common ground for cooperation.

Vulnerable nations

Babayev highlighted the COP29 presidency’s commitment to prioritizing the needs of small island developing states and the least developed countries, as they are disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing the least to global emissions.

“In COP29 presidency consultations, we presented a vision based on two parallel pillars: enhancing ambition and empowering action, with climate finance as a top priority. Reaching an agreement on a fair, ambitious new climate finance target, or the new collective quantified goal, is essential for addressing the severe climate impacts facing frontline communities, including small island developing states and the least developed countries,” he said.

Collective quantified goal

Babayev underscored the new collective quantified goal as a key priority at COP-29, saying: “The top negotiation priority for the COP29 presidency is reaching agreement on a fair and ambitious new climate finance target.”

He continued: “We know the needs are in the trillions, but perspectives differ on how to achieve this. Realistically, public sector contributions and mobilization appear to be in the hundreds of billions. The new target should also include detailed qualitative elements, and we’ve seen progress in terms of access, robust transparency arrangements, structure, and a ten-year framework.”

Upholding commitments

Ensuring that past commitments are honored is a top priority for the COP29 presidency, according to Babayev.

“Transparency is essential to mutual trust within the UNFCCC process, and the COP29 presidency has emphasized enhancing transparency, with biennial transparency reports crucial for tracking progress on commitments and assessing financial gaps and needs,” he explained.

Azerbaijan will lead by example by submitting its own biennial transparency reports ahead of COP29, and Babayev encouraged other parties to do the same. “We are creating a platform for parties to demonstrate their commitment to transparency and publish their biennial transparency reports on time,” he added.

Loss and damage fund and additional pledges

Recognizing COP29’s role in securing additional pledges and enhancing funds to better support vulnerable communities, Babayev stated: “The COP29 presidency is committed to addressing these concerns directly. We recently made substantial progress in Baku and are proud of the role we have played so far.”

He explained: “At the third meeting of the Loss and Damage Fund Board, held in Baku, we took significant steps to establish the financial groundwork for disbursements starting in 2025. Hundreds of millions already pledged will provide practical support to the most vulnerable communities, and we will use COP29 as a platform to call for additional contributions to further strengthen the fund.”

Babayev also acknowledged the contributions of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa region, noting that Saudi Arabia has played a vital role through its leadership of the Arab negotiating group, representing the region’s views and priorities on the global stage.

“We appreciate the efforts of our partners in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa in addressing the critical climate issues affecting us all,” he said.

Reflecting on his meeting with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman in Jeddah earlier this year, Babayev noted: “We discussed opportunities for collaboration on climate action and how we can work together most effectively to achieve the goals and principles of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.”

He welcomed Saudi Arabia’s initiatives to address climate change, including renewable energy use, emissions management, and carbon reduction and removal efforts such as the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, along with circular carbon economy practices, technologies, and other national and regional programs.