How Saudi Arabia is building a realistic roadmap for a circular carbon economy

These initiatives — which champion a circular carbon economy — were in place even before the launch of Green Saudi Arabia and reflect the Kingdom's commitment to addressing future local, regional, and global energy needs.

And although the International Energy Agency's Road map toward net zero was adopted by some leaders of industrialised countries, it's not a realistic initiative. Ironically, these same countries have reverted to coal production, which is actually the most polluting source of energy.

This approach, which places obstacles in the way of all fossil fuel energy sources — especially oil and gas — while turning a blind eye to coal production, demonstrates the agency's hypocritical stance.

On its part, Saudi Arabia has a diverse range of energy sources — comprising oil, gas, wind, solar and soon hydrogen energy — which offers a more qualitative model to reduce carbon emissions.

Qualitative initiatives

In 2021, the Kingdom launched the Green Saudi Arabia initiative, followed by the Green Middle East initiative, which was launched on the sidelines of the 27th Conference of the Parties on the UN Framework Agreement on Climate Change (COP27).

The third edition of the two initiatives will be launched in conjunction with the COP28, due to be hosted by the United Arab Emirates later this year.

The two initiatives are part of the Kingdom's efforts to achieve global climate goals and include the world's largest afforestation project, which plans to plant 50bn trees, including 10bn in Saudi Arabia.

The Green Saudi Arabia initiative isn't limited to planting trees; it also includes reaching a sustainable future and improving the quality of life; likewise, it's determined to reduce carbon emissions by 60% in the region, which faces significant climate challenges — due to its hot climate, sand deserts, sparse rainfall, and sand storms. 

Hypocrisy of carbon tax exposed

Through its initiatives (Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East) — which the Kingdom put forth at a negotiating table on carbon emissions organised by the United States and included Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia essentially was able to subvert a plan to slap a carbon tax on specific countries.

Instead, it announced its own plan to reach zero carbon by 2060.

Saudi Arabia doesn't use coal to generate electricity. As coal constitutes the most harmful fossil fuel responsible for a large proportion of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, it would only make sense to impose a carbon tax primarily on coal plants, producers and consumers.

While international efforts should work toward an integrated system to address climate and environmental challenges and improve quality of life standards, it should not do so by undermining the use of hydrocarbon fuels, which can't be replaced in the long term.

A demonstrated commitment to sustainability

Climate change is increasingly being politicised and used to pressure oil-exporting economies. However, this hasn't side-tracked Saudi Arabia from its commitment to sustainability — in both words and action.

If climate change is indeed a crisis, the world needs more than slogans. It needs effective global leadership based on moral — not political — stances.

The Kingdom has demonstrated its ability to implement its environmental strategy, as evidenced by the positive results already achieved. These results are in line with global research centres and have already exceeded expectations.

It is important to note that an integrated working ecosystem was in place in the Kingdom, even before the launch of these serious initiatives.

It had already advocated for and established a sustainable transition from traditional energy sources to renewable and environmentally-friendly sources, through the construction of renewable power plants. These plants will provide half of the Kingdom's electricity by 2030, while the other half will be produced from gas.

Setting this goal has raised environmental awareness in the Kingdom and led to increased international cooperation in reaching climate change targets.

Saudi Arabia has successfully taken the lead by launching four major sustainable mega projects: Qiddiya, Neom, the Red Sea Project, and Amala.

These projects aim to reduce carbon emissions, conserve marine and coastal environments, and accelerate the transition to clean energy by promoting the use of renewable energy sources. 

Water conservation

One of the biggest challenges involved in planting 10bn trees in Saudi Arabia is water scarcity, as the Kingdom's freshwater ecosystems are limited. However, this challenge will be met by progress in the water treatment sector – the Kingdom has become the world's largest producer of desalinated water.

Important steps are being taken in the water distribution, sanitation, and wastewater treatment sectors for tree irrigation, for example.

This water can then be released into the atmosphere, where it evaporates, causing precipitation elsewhere, a process known as evaporation, which softens the atmosphere and reduces dust.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture plans to reduce water consumption by about 43% from 250 litres per capita per day to 150 litres by 2030 – the current rate is one of the highest in the world.