Saudi Green Initiative set to boost reliance on clean energy; Report

By Arya M Nair, Official Reporter
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Saudi Green Initiative
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The Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) has affirmed the Kingdom’s pioneering role to bring about a qualitative shift internally and regionally toward climate change, according to a report.

The report was released to highlight the SGI forum, which will be hosted in Riyadh on October 23rd to help integrate all plans aimed at attaining sustainability in the Kingdom, boosting reliance on clean energy, lowering carbon emissions, and combating climate change.

Since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016, the Kingdom has made significant progress in protecting the environment and reducing the effects of climate change. 

The SGI will combine environmental protection, energy conversion, and sustainability programs to achieve three comprehensive goals aimed at building a sustainable future for all by reducing carbon emissions, afforestation and protecting land and sea environments.

On the energy side, the Kingdom is making unremitting efforts to strengthen and unify efforts to combat the climate crisis by implementing a growing number of renewable energy initiatives and reducing carbon emissions by more than 4 percent of the global contribution by providing 50 percent of electricity production through renewable energy projects by 2030.

The efforts also include removing about 130 million tons of carbon emissions through the implementation of projects in the field of clean hydrocarbon technology and raising the percentage of waste diversion on landfills to 94 percent.

Moreover, the project aims to provide buildings, various industries, and means of transport with the necessary energy efficiently and effectively for progress and achievement through current renewable energy projects that will produce enough energy to power 600,000 homes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 7 million tons annually.

Furthermore, the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCL), of which Saudi Aramco is a founding member, will invest $7 billion annually in solutions that contribute to reducing carbon emissions, and more than 35 initiatives will be allocated to improve energy efficiency throughout the Kingdom to reduce consumption and waste.

As part of the strategic plan to expand the railway network, the length of the railways will reach 9,900 km, which will contribute to reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions from vehicles.

The environmental part of the SGI will include the planting of 10 billion trees across the Kingdom to convert the desert into green land and restore 40 million hectares of land over the next few decades.

The forum’s goals will be to organize the entire community’s efforts, foster meaningful conversation to reach effective solutions based on scientific facts, and develop a roadmap for the initiative through a comprehensive strategy for the Kingdom to achieve and follow its ambitious goals.

It will also bring together under one roof the entire climate system to achieve the national goals, under the slogan of a new era of action.

Related: Renewable energy related jobs reach 12mn globally in 2020; Report

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