Fortune - USA (2021-10 & 2021-11)

SOWING SEEDS

FOR THE FUTURE

Content by the Buzz Business

As global leaders count down to the

landmark COP26 conference on

climate change, the world’s largest

energy exporter is sp earheading eff orts

to accelerate the energy transition,

reduce greenhouse gas emissions,

and protect wildlife and environmental

resources across the Middle East.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia launched

the Saudi Green Initiative, which will

plant 10 billion trees in the country

over the coming decades. The

ambitious environmental initiative

will multiply the area of Saudi Arabia

covered by trees by a fact or of

12, equivalent to rehabilitating 40

million hect ares of degraded land.

The Saudi Green Initiative will not

only increase vegetation cover and

fi ght desertifi cation, it will also focus

on reducing carbon emissions,

combatt ing pollution, and the

protect ion and repopulating of wildlife.

The country’s ambitions for a greener

future do not end at its own borders;

Saudi Arabia has also unveiled a far-

reaching Middle East Green Initiative

that will see the planting of an additional

40 billion trees across the region. This

international eff ort to rest ore an area

equivalent to 200 million hect ares of

degraded land is the world’s largest

reforest ation program, project ed to

reduce global carbon levels by 2.5%.

By sharing best pract ices, st imulating

invest ment, and tracking progress

toward targets, the Middle East Green

Initiative also aims to reduce carbon

emissions from hydrocarbon product ion

in the region by more than 60%.

Sett ing the pace for renewables

in the Middle East , Saudi Arabia

is already ramping up project s,

particularly in solar and wind. At the

same time, it is implementing energy

e ciency programs, invest ing in

low-carbon public transp ortation

such as high-sp eed rail lines, and

developing cutt ing-edge technologies

including carbon capture and green

hydrogen product ion. By 2030, at

least 50% of the country’s energy

mix will be drawn from renewables.

In Oct ober, to continue the momentum,

the country is host ing the Saudi Green

Initiative Forum, where it will unveil

its roadmap for meeting its climate

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia has launched two green initiatives that will preserve ecosy ems

and transform the environment in the Middle Ea and beyond

Saudi Arabia is developing new techniques to preserve and rest ore its vibrant coral reefs.