المملكة: Saudi Arabia … concrete achievements in the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainability

The Saudi Green Initiative continues to achieve concrete progress in achieving its ambitious goals to protect the environment and promote sustainability, with the active participation of different groups of society, which confirms the Kingdom’s firm commitment to leading a new stage of climate work, and forming a more sustainable future at the local and regional levels.
On the occasion of the day of the Saudi Green Initiative, which coincides with the anniversary of the launch of the initiative on March 27, the Kingdom celebrates the distinguished achievements of the initiative to this day, renewing its commitment to protecting the environment and enhancing its leadership role within the global efforts to combat the repercussions of climate change.

86 initiatives and program

In this context, work is underway to implement 86 initiatives and a program under the umbrella of the Saudi Green Initiative with investments exceeding 705 billion riyals in various fields of the green economy.
These projects aim to achieve the main goals of the initiative: reducing carbon emissions, afforestation of the Kingdom, and protecting land and sea areas, in line with the targets of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision to build a sustainable and prosperous economy, and to upgrade the levels of quality of life in Saudi society.

The initiative made great achievements in terms of afforestation of the Kingdom and reclaiming the deteriorating lands, as its efforts resulted in cultivating more than 115 million trees in various parts of the Kingdom and reclaiming more than 118 thousand hectares of land, in a prominent achievement in preparation for the cultivation of 10 billion trees during the coming decades, and reclamation of more than 74 million hectares of land.
These efforts highlight the strategic approach that the Kingdom adopts to restore its green spaces and protect them for future generations.

Reducing carbon emissions

Since its launch in 2021, the initiative’s efforts are accelerated towards reducing carbon emissions and pushing the green transition in the Kingdom, as it aspires to achieve the goal of zero neutrality and reduce emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030.
To date, renewable energy projects have been linked with a capacity of 6.6 gigawatts with the National Electricity Network, along with a number of projects under development with a total capacity of 44.2 GB.

During the year 2024, projects were launched with a capacity of 20 gigawatts, and these projects fall within the framework of the ambitious plans of the Kingdom towards increasing renewable energy capacities in the power mix to reach 130 gigawatts, and reach the optimal energy mix for electricity production by approximately 50% for natural gas and 50% for renewable energy by 2030.

Wildlife protection

The initiative’s efforts extend to include the protection of innate life and the resettlement of local species in their natural habitats, as it seeks to protect 30% of the land and sea areas in the Kingdom according to a distinct approach that depends on harmony between man and nature, which ensures raising the levels of quality of life and the prosperity of natural environments.
To this day, the Kingdom has succeeded in protecting 18.1% of its wild areas, 6.49% of its marine areas, in addition to resettlement of more than 7,000 fungal objects threatened with extinction in natural reserves, including the Arabian oryx, the human fibers, and the worms.
The Kingdom intends to continue its relentless endeavors in the field of environmental protection and sustainability support, through the implementation of comprehensive qualitative projects and programs under the umbrella of the Saudi Green Initiative, embodying the active role of the Kingdom in leading climate work and building a more sustainable future for all.