NEWS   To combat climate change, Saudi Arabia has launched the Saudi Green and Middle East Green initiatives.

SAUDI GREEN INITIATIVE

• This initiative aims at:  

1. raise the vegetation cover,
2. reduce carbon emissions,
3. combat pollution and land degradation,
4. preserve marine life.

• As part of the initiative, 10 billion trees will be planted in the Kingdom.
• It aims to reduce carbon emissions by more than 4% of global contributions, through a renewable energy programme that will generate 50% of Saudi’s energy from renewables by 2030.
• Saudi Arabia is working towards raising the percentage of its protected areas to more than 30% of its total land area, representing roughly 6,00,000 sq km, exceeding the global target of 17%.

MIDDLE EAST GREEN INITIATIVE

• As part of the Middle East Green initiative, Saudi Arabia will work with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and regional partners to plant an additional 40 billion trees in the West Asian region.
• It represents 5% of the global target of planting one trillion trees and reducing 2.5% of global carbon levels.
• Saudi Arabia has been sharing its expertise and know-how with its neighbouring countries to reduce carbon emissions resulting from hydrocarbon production in the region by 60% and globally by 10%.

OTHER EFFORTS BY SAUDI ARABIA

• Saudi Arabia currently operates the largest carbon capture and utilisation plant in the world, turning half a million tonnes of CO2 annually into products such as fertilizers and methanol.
• It also operates one of the region’s most advanced CO2-enhanced oil recovery plants that captures and stores 8,00,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
• Under  Saudi G20 presidency, the summit highlighted how climate change had negatively impacted the planet, people’s lives and their well-being.
• As a result, G20 introduced initiatives like establishing a Global Coral Reef Research and Development Accelerator Platform to accelerate scientific knowledge and technology development in support of coral reef survival, conservation, resilience, adaptation and restoration.
• G20 leaders also acknowledged the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) Platform as a tool towards affordable, reliable, and secure energy and economic growth.

INDIA- SAUDI COLLABORATED EFFORTS  

• Saudi Arabia has joined the International Solar Alliance, hence promoting cooperation in the renewable energy sector.
• Also, several MoUs and agreements in key sectors including renewable energy were signed.

WORKING TOWARDS VISION 2030

• In 2016, the Crown Prince unveiled Vision 2030, a comprehensive road map to improve the quality of life of the citizens of the country.
• As part of this, Saudi Arabia carried out a comprehensive restructuring of the environmental sector and established the Environmental Special Forces in 2019.
• With projects like, NEOM and The Line, Saudi Arabia has already redefined the idea of sustainable habitats.

CONCLUSION Saudi Arabia hopes that the launch of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative marks the beginning of a green era and that these initiatives provide momentum to other countries to unify their efforts to save our planet. 

It should be noted that, according to the World Bank, for every dollar invested in resilient infrastructure, $4 in benefits are generated.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/marking-the-beginning-of-a-green-era/article34424848.ece