Climate change poses many significant threats to the security and stability of not just any particular region (though some are at a more immediate risk than others) but to the world as a whole. Rising sea levels mean that coastal cities, where most of the world's population lives, will become uninhabitable, causing those residents to find shelter elsewhere as climate refugees. Increasing global temperatures will affect food production, access to water and contribute to the spread of viruses. States have recently recognized the need to consider climate change when crafting policy, as these are not merely future threats anymore. Environmental degradation impacts are felt today with rises in natural disasters, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, droughts, rising sea levels, and irregular weather patterns, which have economic, social, and human costs to states.
Human security risks, along with the projected data
associated with climate change, deforestation, and decaying ecosystems, should
further support the concern for serious action to limit the effects of climate
change before it is too late. Regionally, the GCC states have faced an array of
environmental challenges in which they must collectively coordinate efforts to
combat in order to mitigate and overcome the medium- and long-term consequences
of environmental degradation. The SaudiGreen Initiative
announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 27, 2021 places acknowledges the Kingdom’s role and responsibility in
combatting current and emerging challenges stemming from climate change. The impacts of greenhouse gasses and air pollution have been felt locally in Saudi Arabia and have
caused a decrease in the average Saudi life expectancy by 1.5 years. Saudi
Arabia's vast geographical landscape ranging from the coastlines to the
mountain ridges and the central plateau makes it home to rich and diverse
ecosystems. However, Saudi Arabia suffers from extreme climate conditions,
desertification, water shortages, and limited natural vegetation.
In this
context, the Saudi Green
Initiative aims to tackle the short and long-term costs associated with climate
change. The initiative will see Saudi Arabia undergo tremendous developments in
advancing the circular economy to reduce, reuse, recycle, and
remove carbon emissions. Specifically, the initiative aims to reduce carbon emission by 60%,
increase investment and adoption of renewable energy to generate over 50% of
the Kingdoms' domestic demand, undertake afforestation by planting 10 billion
trees in Saudi Arabia in the near and medium-term and preserve marine
ecosystems. The Crown Prince announced that the
Kingdom would raise the percentage of environmentally protected areas to over
30% of Saudi's landmass to preserve biodiversity. Protected areas will range
among the vast geographical topography of both the land and sea of Saudi Arabia
to conserve the varied landscapes and promote environmental awareness. The initiative has rightfully received global
attention for achieving a significant milestone in reshaping the region's
future. Beyond Saudi's Green Initiative, the Kingdom will contribute to the
development of The Middle East Green Initiative in
cooperation with regional states and collaborate further with international
partners to advance environmentally conscious policies. As a result, deliberate
climate
policies are likely to increase throughout the region thanks to the announced
Saudi initiative.
Furthermore, this multi-faceted initiative
covers a range of climate and energy related plans aimed at addressing development,
societal and environmental issues that will help realize Saudi Vision 2030. In
short, both the Saudi and Middle East green initiatives demonstrate innovative
ways to decarbonise the economy and try to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions.
*Ghassan Shams is a Researcher the Gulf Research Center
