Saudi Arabia Steps up ‘Climate Battle’ Efforts

Part of the audience in the Saudi pavilion at the COP27 conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the audience in the Saudi pavilion at the COP27 conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Steps up ‘Climate Battle’ Efforts

Part of the audience in the Saudi pavilion at the COP27 conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the audience in the Saudi pavilion at the COP27 conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi pavilion at COP27 was one of the most crowded places during the days of the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Visitors did not only attend seminars and discussion sessions, they also met researchers who have introduced programs directed to combating climate change to light.

While Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman was active in leading the Saudi delegation during the days of his presence, which witnessed the launch of many Saudi-sponsored initiatives to confront climate change, researchers enriched the sessions with a lot of technical information on the nature and details of the initiatives.

During the summit, Prince Abdulaziz referred to many initiatives and concepts.

Those initiatives included the establishment of a regional center for the development of reducing emissions, and the launching of the Circular Carbon Economy Knowledge Hub at the beginning of 2023.

He also stressed the need to consolidate the circular carbon economy.

For his part, the Governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, Yasir Al Rumayyan, said that Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) is a turning point in environmental efforts aiming to transition national ambitions into practical steps that affect the entire world.

Al Rumayyan underlined the great efforts being made by the Kingdom to build a green future, as part of its ambitions for carbon neutrality by 2060.

The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Initiative was the first of its kind in the MENA region, Al Rumayyan said during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum.

The world’s largest-ever carbon credit auction took place last month, when 1.4 million tons of carbon credits were sold to 15 Saudi and regional entities. The PIF was also the first sovereign wealth fund to issue a 100-year tranche green bond, Al Rumayyan added.



Lebanon’s Struggling Economy Slides Toward Full Recession

The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)
The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)
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Lebanon’s Struggling Economy Slides Toward Full Recession

The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)
The Jousieh crossing between Lebanon and Syria following an Israeli strike on October 25. (AFP)

The ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon has led to significant economic losses estimated between $10 billion and $20 billion.

This range reflects the difficulty in accurately assessing the damage amid Israel’s ongoing military operations, including airstrikes and ground attacks.

The destruction of homes, infrastructure, and farmland has contributed to a state of uncertainty, along with an unprecedented wave of displacement affecting many families.

Experts agree that reliable economic data is hard to obtain while the conflict continues.

Reports from the Ministry of Health and international organizations said nearly 3,000 people have been killed and around 15,000 injured, mostly civilians.

Additionally, about 1.4 million people have been displaced from their homes, representing roughly a quarter of Lebanon’s population.

Growing economic crisis ahead

The war came at a time when Lebanon’s economy was already struggling after five years of crisis.

According to Mohammad Choucair, head of the Economic Bodies Association, the situation is worsening rapidly, threatening serious economic and social consequences.

Current estimates suggest that direct losses from the conflict could reach between $10 billion and $12 billion, impacting various sectors.

As the war continues, key sectors like tourism, agriculture, and trade are experiencing a sharp decline in business activity.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises are being forced to close or suspend operations due to direct damage from attacks, reduced consumer demand, and disruptions in trade and supply chains caused by the influx of displaced people.

International financial institutions are warning that the ongoing Israeli attacks could continue for several more months, possibly lasting until mid-2025.

The Institute of International Finance (IIF) forecasts a 7% contraction in Lebanon’s GDP by the end of this year, followed by a 10% decline next year.

This would bring the total economic decline to nearly 60% from the peak GDP of around $53 billion recorded at the end of 2018.