On October 24, Bahrain’s Cabinet announced the intention to bring carbon emissions to net-zero by 2060 to help tackle climate change and protect the environment, the state news agency (BNA) reported.
The Kingdom has already reduced emissions while growing the national economy by placing clean, green, and sustainable growth at the heart of Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
The Kingdom will adopt a circular carbon economy strengthened by various offsetting schemes, including carbon-capture technology and afforestation.
Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and Chief Executive of the Supreme Council for Environment Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, said that the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting the environment remains firm.
“A multitude of measures have been undertaken to improve environmental protection across the Kingdom, led by HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister,” he said.
He added that the government is committed to ensuring an environment that promotes sustainable development and supports future generations.
“Climate change is a global challenge that requires cooperation and joint responsibility. We encourage other countries to join the global community in achieving sustainable development by unlocking the potential of a greener economy and working together to keep 1.5 degrees alive,” he said.
Bahrain welcomes Saudi Arabia’s announcement to target net-zero by 2060
The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s launch of wide-ranging environmental initiatives that form a roadmap for protecting the environment and combating climate change, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Bahrain also welcomed the announcement of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to target net-zero by 2060.
Saudi Arabia aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060
HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Head of the Higher Committee for the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), launched the first set of SGI environmental initiatives at its inaugural annual forum, announcing the Kingdom’s aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
He said Saudi Arabia aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 through the Carbon Circular Economy approach. This is based on the Kingdom’s critical role in confronting shared international issues, its belief in the need for collaborative efforts to confront climate change, and the necessity of the green transformation to deliver social and economic prosperity to the Kingdom.
HRH the Crown Prince continued by stating that Saudi Arabia’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions aligns with the Kingdom’s economic diversification and development plans and the “Dynamic Baseline” for emissions reduction.
HRH the Crown Prince added that this first set of initiatives represents over SR700 billion ($186.63 billion), contributing to the growth of the green economy.
He continued by saying that “The Saudi Green Initiative will provide huge investment opportunities for the private sector, quality job opportunities for the next generation of leaders in the Kingdom, and enhanced international relationships that will positively impact the region and the world.”
In his opening remarks at the forum, HRH the Crown Prince announced a diverse set of initiatives in the Kingdom as a roadmap to protect the environment and address climate change challenges while achieving SGI’s ambitious targets.
He added that the first wave of initiatives that will deliver against the targets under the Saudi Green Initiative include programs that aim to achieve more than 278 Mtpa carbon emissions reduction by 2030.
This is more than doubling delivery against the emissions reduction target set forth at the announcement of the Saudi Green Initiative earlier this year. The Kingdom will also join the Global Methane Pledge to contribute to cutting global methane emissions by 30% by 2030, as part of its commitment to deliver a cleaner, greener future.
HRH the Crown Prince said the Kingdom will plant 450 million trees and rehabilitate 8 million hectares of degraded lands by 2030, reducing 200 million tons of carbon emissions with additional initiatives to be announced in the years to come. The transformation of Riyadh into one of the world’s most sustainable cities is already underway, with an extensive set of sustainability solutions that will be outlined at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum.
He went on to state that an increasing area of land is being designated for protection in the coming years to achieve the first 20% of the goal to protect over 30% of the Kingdom’s total land area, with initiatives to deliver the final 10% to be announced at a later stage.
The transition to net-zero carbon emissions will be delivered in a manner that preserves the Kingdom’s leading role in enhancing the security and stability of global energy markets, particularly considering the maturity and availability of technologies necessary to manage and reduce emissions.
To further amplify its protection of terrestrial, marine, and coastal environments, HRH the Crown Prince, announced that Saudi Arabia is joining the Global Ocean Alliance, establishing the Ocean Exploration Foundation, and announcing several initiatives – including a Global Center for Tourism Sustainability.
Saudi Arabia targets net-zero emissions by 2060, Crown Prince says
Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Green Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, on Octover 23 launched the inaugural edition of the annual forum of the Saudi Green Initiative in Riyadh, concerned with launching new environmental initiatives for the Kingdom and monitoring the impact of the previously-announced initiatives, to achieve the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative.
In a key opening speech at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince announced the launch of the first package of qualitative initiatives in the Kingdom to set a roadmap for protecting the environment and confronting climate change, designed to contribute to achieving the ambitious goals of the Saudi Green Initiative, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
His Royal Highness pointed out that the Kingdom has launched initiatives in the energy sector designed to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030, thus voluntarily more than doubling the targeted emissions reduction.
His Royal Highness confirmed the start of the first phase of afforestation initiatives by planting more than 450 million trees, in addition to rehabilitating eight million hectares of degraded lands and allocating new protected areas, bringing the total protected areas in the Kingdom to more than 20% of its total area.
His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, stressed his determination to transform Riyadh into one of the most sustainable cities in the world.
His Royal Highness announced the Kingdom’s intention to join the Global Oceans Alliance, the Alliance to Eliminate Plastic Wastes in Oceans and Beaches, the Sports for Climate Action Agreement, in addition to establishing a global center for sustainable tourism, and a non-profit foundation to explore the seas and oceans.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince further announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aims to reach Net Zero in the year 2060 through the Carbon Circular Economy approach, in line with its development plans and enabling its economic diversification, following the Dynamic Baseline, while preserving and reinforcing the Kingdom’s leading role in the security and stability of global energy markets, amid the availability and maturity of the required technologies to manage and reduce emissions.
His Royal Highness further added that this first package of initiatives represents investments worth more than 700 billion Saudi Riyals, contributing to developing the green economy, creating quality job opportunities, and providing significant investment opportunities for the private sector following the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
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Read here what Middle East Green Initiative Summit concluded in the Saudi capital.
