Category: Saudi Arabia News Brief and Action Alert

Saudi Arabia–$60.9 billion in 2011 Diesel and gasoline sold in Saudi Arabia are about 12% and 30% of international reference prices, respectively. Saudis enjoy the second lowest domestic fossil fuel prices in the world, behind only Venezuela. In 2009, the Kingdom spent a total of $32.5 billion on fossil fuel subsidies. In 2010, this figure increased...

The questionnaires focused on exploring the approach of the construction sector stakeholders to sustainable buildings both at the development and operational phases of projects. The findings of the survey indicate that the Saudi building industry has yet to realize the importance of sustainability. To investigate the prospects of sustainable buildings in Saudi Arabia, two researchers...

Saudi Arabia: (1) Strengthen country’s Paris Agreement pledge; (2) Adhere to previously announced policies aimed at diversifying its energy mix. Yes, Saudi Arabia should strengthen its INDC emission reduction pledge to the Paris Agreement by increasing the amount of GHG emission avoidance from the current targeted rate of 130 MtCO2e/year to 390 MtCO2e/year by 2030...

Saudi Arabia—No 2050 100% commitment Benchmark: 9.5 GW of renewable energy supply by 2030 Saudi Arabia’s goals for using renewable energy to support its economy are listed in its INDC. They include scenario one: economic diversification with strong contribution from oil export revenues. In this scenario, the revenues from exporting oil will be invested in...

Saudi Arabia—Green Saudi Company for Carbon Services In 2017, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) announced a partnership and cooperation agreement with Petroleum, Chemicals & Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Saudi Binladen Group, to establish the Green Saudi Company for Carbon Services. The company seeks to develop and manage carbon emissions reduction programs and...

Saudi Arabia—Falling Behind The 2016 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) report concludes that Saudi Arabia has made no improvement in its overall ranking in the CCPI and places the country at the bottom of the ranking for lack of significant progress in the country’s exploiting its high potential for renewable energy instead of relying on...

Green Saudi Company for Carbon Services In late February 2017, Saudi Arabia established the Green Saudi Company for Carbon Services. The mission of this organization is to develop and manage carbon emission reduction programs and sustainable development mechanism projects. It also will assist in the fight against environmental pollution in accordance with regional and international...

Extreme Rainfall and Flash Flooding in Jeddah City In 2009 and 2011, Jeddah City in the middle of the western region of Saudi Arabia experienced short, but intense rainfall events with rainfall precipitation values of 70 mml and 110 mml that led to flash floods. The World Bank climate adaptation expert, Balgis Osman-Elasha, defines an...

Media organizations in Saudi Arabia don’t take a specific perspective towards climate change. Rather, they cover news of climate change activities in Saudi Arabia or other countries or publish scientific research on the impact of climate change on certain climate and geographical aspects (for example water shortage in Saudi Arabia) or specific climate change-related issues....

Government Official Khalid Al-Falih Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia As the minister of energy, industry, and mineral resources, Mr. Al-Falih’s role is important in setting or influencing Saudi Arabia’s climate change policies.  He leads the Saudi Arabian delegation to COP 22 that comprises negotiators and subject matter experts...