As COP16 to combat Desertification is currently taking place in Riyadh until December 13, and COP29 has recently concluded in Baku, this is an opportune moment to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in combating climate change. Under its modernisation plan, Vision 2030, launched in 2016 by H.R.H. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom has prioritised energy transition and climate action as central pillars of its strategy. Saudi Arabia is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, with a strong emphasis on clean energy initiatives. Let us first examine the scope of COP16 to combat Desertification before delving into the climate-focused efforts undertaken by the Kingdom.

I. Desertification, Climate Change, Biodiversity…: Understanding the COPs and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Engagement

With COPs addressing various environmental challenges, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between them. Since the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, the conferences have taken the form of COPs, or “Conferences of the Parties”, which have been held since 1995. The COPs bring together the signatories of the UN Conventions related to climate change, 196 countries and the European Union.

The subject of these COPs is the global protection of the planet. Three distinct COPs have been established to address specific aspects of this broader issue:

1. UN Climate Change Conference COP29: This conference focuses on tackling the global climate crisis by bringing together parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, limit global warming, and promote sustainable development. This is the most prominent conference addressing environmental issues, the most recent example is COP29 on climate change, held in Baku just two weeks ago.
2. UNCCD COP16: This COP addresses desertification, land degradation, and the effects of drought, based on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This is the COP16 taking place in Riyadh.
3. UN Biodiversity Conference COP16: The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) focuses on conserving biological diversity, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. This is the  COP16 on biodiversity that was hosted one month ago in Colombia.

Since COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, have intensified efforts to integrate climate objectives into their economic and industrial strategies. COP28 was held in Dubai, UAE, last year, and Riyadh is currently hosting UNCCD COP16, themed Our Land. Our Future. Desertification, defined by the UNCCD as land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions due to climatic variations and human activities, poses a growing threat to numerous regions worldwide (frequent and intense droughts, degrades soils, disrupts ecosystems, and threatens the livelihoods of millions). To combat desertification, sustainable practices, reforestation, and international cooperation are essential. This year’s UNCCD COP is set to be the largest-ever UNCCD conference, marking a significant milestone as the first to be held in the Middle East and the largest multilateral event ever organised by Saudi Arabia.

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company (RVCMC) officially launched its voluntary carbon market exchange platform. This platform, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF – 80%) and the Saudi Tadawul Group (20%), is a significant milestone in the Kingdom’s ambition to become one of the largest voluntary carbon markets globally by 2030. The inaugural day of trading saw participation from 23 Saudi and international companies, including Aramco, Ma’aden, and Red Sea Global. To mark the launch, RVCMC auctioned over 2.5 million tonnes of high-quality carbon credits from 17 projects worldwide. Over 75% of the credits originated from Global South countries, such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Malaysia, and included projects like methane capture from landfill gas and reforestation. The clearing price for the auction was SAR37.5 per tonne. With this launch, Saudi Arabia reinforces its role as a leader in the Middle East’s voluntary carbon market.

II. National and Regional Initiatives Launched by Saudi Arabia

Launched in 2017, Saudi Arabia’s National Environmental Strategy emerged from the recognition of the need for a comprehensive framework to implement effective solutions that enhance the country’s economic performance while preserving the environment. A number of projects have been initiated to support this strategy, including Green Riyadh, a greening project aimed at reducing the city’s temperature by 2°C; King Salman Energy Park, designed to develop sustainable energy solutions.

One of the Kingdom’s flagship initiatives is the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), launched in March 2021 by H.R.H. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This initiative is focused on reducing carbon emissions, promoting green energy, and preserving local ecosystems. Through the SGI, Saudi Arabia has committed to achieving the ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2060, with a target to bring its state-owned oil giant, Aramco, to carbon neutrality by 2050. Concrete actions within this programme include planting 10 billion trees, converting 30% of Saudi Arabia’s land into nature reserves, generating 50% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and establishing a circular carbon economy. The fight against climate change has permeated all sectors and has become a driving force behind the Kingdom’s megaprojects, such as achieving a “carbon-neutral footprint” in the futuristic city of Neom and regenerating wildlife and ecosystems in future Red Sea resorts.

The Saudi Green Initiative Forum 2024 took place on December 3-4 under the theme “Action is in our nature”. H.R.H. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is also the chairman of the Supreme Committee for the Saudi Green Initiative. Policymakers, business leaders, and experts will gather in the dedicated SGI Pavilion in the UNCCD COP16 Green Zone.

Another significant initiative is the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), led by and headquartered in the Kingdom. This initiative, also launched in 2021 but in the region, seeks to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East, including 10 billion in Saudi Arabia, and restore 200 million hectares of degraded land. The MGI also targets reducing carbon emissions from regional hydrocarbon production by over 60%. At the first session of its Ministerial Council held in Jeddah a month ago, 11 new countries, including Algeria, Senegal, and the United Kingdom as an observer, joined the initiative, bringing the total number of members to 29. Saudi Arabia plays a central role in coordinating and implementing the MGI, having allocated a budget of 2.5 billion USD to the Secretariat of the MGI in May 2024. The organisational structure and internal policies of the MGI Secretariat have been approved.

While the initiatives are clear and ambitious, it is now important to focus on what has been concretely implemented in recent years.

III. Saudi Arabia’s Concrete Steps Towards Net-Zero by 2060: Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen and Circular Economy

1. Renewable Energy: Saudi Arabia Turns Ambitions into Reality

As part of its Vision 2030 and SGI, Saudi Arabia is committed to developing large-scale energy diversification programmes aimed at transitioning from a fossil fuel-based model to one diversified with a robust renewable energy capacity. Saudi Arabia has made renewable energy a national priority, with the goal of achieving 130 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, which will account for 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources. To reach its target, the Kingdom would add over 20GW of renewable capacity every year. The country primarily focuses on solar energy and wind energy, but also thermal energy, with 50GW of solar capacity by 2030 with several major projects such as the 300MW Sakaka solar plant, the 420MW Sudair solar park, and the planned 2GW Al-Shuaibah solar project.

2. Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Green Hydrogen Goals

Saudi Arabia is making efforts to position itself as a global leader in green hydrogen production and export. Central to this strategy is the Neom project, especially a facility at Oxagon powered by 4 GW of solar and wind energy. Set to begin operations in 2026, the plant will produce 600 tonnes of green hydrogen daily. This initiative is part of a broader vision to integrate green hydrogen into the national energy mix, encompassing production, export, and domestic applications, supported by robust infrastructure and transportation networks.

3. A Solution Advanced: The Circular Carbon Economy

Saudi Arabia is advancing the concept of a Circular Carbon Economy (CCE), inspired by the principles of the circular economy and based on four pillars: reduce, reuse, recycle, and remove. As highlighted at COP29 in Baku, the Kingdom is prioritising this approach as a comprehensive framework to achieve decarbonisation, reduce carbon emissions, promote carbon recycling, and support carbon credit systems. Among its flagship initiatives is the development of one of the world’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility, located in the industrial zone of Jubail in the Eastern Province. Once fully operational in 2027, the facility is expected to capture and store up to 9 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious initiatives demonstrate the Kingdom’s strong commitment to combating climate change and diversifying its economy. While hydrocarbons remain central to its economic framework, Saudi Arabia is focused on minimising their environmental impact and transitioning towards a more sustainable and diversified energy mix. Hosting COP16 is a clear testament to the Kingdom’s active role in addressing global environmental challenges and further reinforces its leadership in the transition to a greener future. In March 2024, the European Union and the GCC countries launched the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition project in Abu Dhabi. This initiative aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices and technologies between the EU and GCC countries, supporting their green transition and fostering collaboration between European green tech companies and their Gulf counterparts. The first EU-GCC Green Transition Forum, held on 9 October 2024 in Abu Dhabi, marked a key milestone for this partnership. The European Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (ECCKSA) works closely with the EU on the Green Transition programme, serving as a unified voice for European businesses in the Kingdom. ECCKSA welcomes sustainability initiatives that invite Europe to contribute its expertise and shape a shared green future.