Although the Saudi Green Initiative already targets 50% renewable electricity generation by 2030, prioritizing large-scale solar projects in the central and western regions, where sunlight intensity is highest, could both displace oil-based power generation and enable the export of low-carbon electricity to neighboring countries.

Saudi Arabia’s policy on climate change is primarily set by the leadership of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and implemented by government bodies and research institutions. The government launched two major climate policy initiatives in 2021, both outlined by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that aim to combat climate change locally and through cooperation in the region: the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) to reach net zero by 2060 and advance clean energy development and sustainability programs within the Kingdom. 

The SGI centers on the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework, which has yielded over 30 initiatives integrating climate action and economic progress across the energy system. The initiative is dedicated to achieving net zero emissions through a balanced approach that harmonizes economic growth with environmental preservation, employing inclusive strategies to cultivate investment, jobs, and opportunities. The MGI initiative sets ambitious targets, including planting 50 billion trees, restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land, increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity generation to 50% by 2030, and reducing carbon emissions by 44 million tons by 2035. To achieve these goals, the government established committees within the ministries of Energy and of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), chaired by local and global senior leaders and experts in their fields. Additionally, King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) and the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) are tasked with researching and implementing renewable energy policies and innovative solutions to combat desertification. 

One effective action the Saudi government could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions further is to accelerate the integration of renewable energy into the national grid by expanding investment in solar and wind power under the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). Although the SGI already targets 50% renewable electricity generation by 2030, prioritizing large-scale solar projects in the central and western regions, where sunlight intensity is highest, could both displace oil-based power generation and enable the export of low-carbon electricity to neighboring countries. This shift would directly reduce emissions from the energy sector, which remains the Kingdom’s largest source of greenhouse gases.

A complementary action would be to strengthen the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework by scaling up carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects in partnership with domestic industries and international research institutions such as KACARE. By developing CCUS hubs near petrochemical and cement facilities, Saudi Arabia could significantly curb industrial emissions while creating a global model for balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. Together, these measures —rapid renewable deployment and advanced carbon management —would move the country closer to its 2060 net-zero goal while maintaining energy security and economic diversification.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Saudi Arabia Country Managers, Amgad Ellaboudy and Abeer Abdulkareem.

Edited by Diana Gastelum.