Riyadh: The fourth edition of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum began today, coinciding with the sixteenth session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh. Held under the theme “Action is in our Nature,” the first day of the 2024 SGI Forum saw five new initiatives announced, valued at $60 million (SAR225 million), reinforcing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leading role in climate and environment efforts.
According to Saudi Press Agency, total investment in the Saudi Green Initiative has exceeded $188 billion (SAR705 billion), with 86 initiatives activated to deliver tangible progress towards the aims of all three Rio Conventions. The initiative is central to Saudi Arabia’s goal of creating a greener future by reducing emissions, combating desertification, and safeguarding natural ecosystems.
Saudi Arabia is making significant strides towards achieving net zero by 2060, driven by the Circular Carbon Economy approach. A key goal of the Saudi Green Initiative is t
o reduce emissions by 278 million tons annually and optimize the domestic energy mix to achieve nearly 50% of electricity generation capacity from renewable sources by 2030.
The Kingdom plans to increase renewable energy capacity to 130 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. Currently, 6.2 GW is connected to the grid, and 20 GW of projects were launched this year. An additional 44.2 GW are under development, which will supply over 7 million homes with clean electricity.
In efforts to displace over one million barrels of liquid fuel daily, Saudi Arabia is developing highly efficient gas-fired power stations with carbon capture readiness, providing a total capacity of 42 GW. Four stations with 5.6 GW capacity are operational, 9 GW are under construction, 21 GW awarded for construction, and 6 GW slated for tendering in 2025.
Construction is underway in Jubail on one of the world’s largest carbon capture, transport, and storage centers, targeting the capture of 9 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2027. The Saudi Ene
rgy Efficiency Program has already achieved substantial energy savings, reducing 539,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily by the end of 2023-a 9.5% increase from 2022.
Since the SGI launch in 2021, Saudi Arabia has planted over 100 million trees and shrubs and dispersed millions of seeds to combat sand encroachment. The Kingdom has rehabilitated over 118,000 hectares of degraded land, advancing the interim goal of rehabilitating 8 million hectares by 2030.
New initiatives, led by Ma’aden, Morooj Foundation, and Tanmiah Food Company, represent a $60 million investment to accelerate afforestation. These initiatives aim to plant millions of trees and mangroves, scatter 300 million seeds, rehabilitate land, reduce air pollution, and enhance biodiversity.
Saudi Arabia aims to protect current and future generations by providing essential protection against extreme heat through afforestation. This effort supports the long-term goal of growing 10 billion trees, enhancing resilience to desertification, and improving
quality of life.
Currently, 18.1% of Saudi Arabia’s land and 6.49% of marine environments are under protection, advancing the Kingdom’s target of safeguarding 30% of its land and marine areas by 2030.
Historic milestones have been reached in conservation efforts since the SGI launch in 2021. Over 7,000 endangered species, including Arabian oryx and Nubian ibex, have been rewilded in nature reserves. In 2024, four cheetah cubs were born, marking a significant achievement under the National Cheetah Conservation Strategy. Additionally, over 110 endangered red-necked ostrich chicks hatched, indicating the success of species reintroduction.
The Ibex Reserve and King Salman Royal Nature Reserve were added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List, recognizing Saudi Arabia’s progress in conservation management.