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Environment & Sustainability Guide

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia faces significant environmental challenges due to climate change, including a mean temperature rise of 2.1°C from 1979-2019, nearly three times the global average, exacerbating water scarcity and desertification. As a major oil producer, it has high GHG emissions of 889 MtCO2e, yet pursues ambitions like net GHG cuts of 335mn t/yr by 2040 and 50% renewable energy, though policies are rated highly insufficient by experts.

Air Quality Index

Moderate

6.0/10

Stable trend

Air quality trend is stable per database, but industrial activities from oil production contribute to pollution. Government initiatives focus on regulations, though urban areas like Riyadh face higher PM levels from dust and emissions.

Water Quality

Moderate

6.5/10

Water scarcity is a pressing concern with heavy reliance on desalination and groundwater. Treatment standards ensure potable water in urban areas, but pollution from industry and agriculture affects quality. Access to clean water is high via government monitoring.

Desalination provides safe drinking water; however, climate change reduces reserves by projected 15-20% by 2050.

Recycling System

Recycling infrastructure is developing under Vision 2030, but specific rates unavailable in database. Focus on waste management in urban centers with initiatives for plastic and industrial waste.

Green Spaces

Limited forest coverage at ~1%, with initiatives for afforestation and land restoration to combat desertification. Protected areas include national parks focused on biodiversity conservation.

Forest Coverage: 1.0%

National Parks: 12

Efforts include afforestation in NDC to restore land and fight desertification.

Environmental Policies

Saudi Arabia's NDC targets 335mn t CO2e net GHG reductions annually by 2040 via renewables, CCS, and afforestation. Part of Paris Agreement; Vision 2030 drives diversification.

Key Policies:

•Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
•Vision 2030 Sustainability Programs

Renewable Energy: 50% renewable energy capacity; 12.3GW connected, 10.7GW under construction.

Natural Disaster Risk

MODERATE

Common risks include floods, heatwaves, droughts, and sandstorms. Recent events: 52°C heatwave in Jeddah 2010 causing blackouts.

floodsheatwavesdroughtssandstorms

Climate Change Impacts: Mean temperature rose 2.1°C (1979-2019), summer by 2.5°C; projected 2-3°C rise by 2050 with 20 annual heatwaves. Precipitation down 5-10% by 2050, increasing droughts/floods variability by 60%; sea level rise risks 210,000 to floods by 2050. Up to 25% arable land at desertification risk.

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy

Targets 50% renewable capacity; 12.3GW connected, 44Mt CO2 storage by 2035 via CCS hub operational 2027.

Afforestation and Land Restoration

NDC includes afforestation, land restoration, and desertification combat as non-GHG metrics for emissions targets.

Wildlife & Nature

Arabian OryxVulnerable

Arabian LeopardCritically Endangered

Arabian GazelleVulnerable

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