Saudi Arabia, an arid nation, faces significant environmental challenges. Growing ecological pressures demand attention, highlighting a shifting focus towards sustainable practices in a region historically defined by its oil wealth.
Key Environmental Challenges
Saudi Arabia faces considerable water scarcity, exacerbated by its hyper-arid climate. The nation relies heavily on desalination, accounting for about 50% of consumed water, and rapidly depleting groundwater reserves. It is the world’s largest producer of desalinated water. Agriculture consumes over 80% of the nation’s water, predominantly through unsustainable groundwater extraction. Per capita water consumption is approximately 263 liters per day, double the world average.
Air pollution is a significant concern, particularly in urban areas. Industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and household sources contribute to pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. These contaminants are linked to respiratory illnesses, including asthma, COPD, and lung cancer. Natural phenomena such as sand and dust storms also degrade air quality.
Desertification and land degradation are widespread across Saudi Arabia, with 95% of the country classified as desert. This involves the expansion of desert areas and loss of fertile land, driven by overgrazing, rapid urbanization, and climate change. Land degradation impacts biodiversity and reduces the land’s capacity to retain moisture, further straining water resources.
Waste management is a growing problem due to increasing municipal and industrial waste generation. Saudi Arabia produces over 110 million tons of waste annually, with nearly half from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Much of this waste, particularly municipal solid waste, is disposed of untreated in landfills. Many are nearing capacity and are not engineered to mitigate environmental harm effectively. Limited recycling infrastructure means only 3-5% of waste is currently recycled.
Biodiversity loss threatens Saudi Arabia’s ecosystems, including Red Sea coral reefs and diverse desert flora and fauna. Coastal ecosystems face stress from rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and pollution, leading to coral bleaching. Terrestrial biodiversity is impacted by habitat loss and fragmentation due to development, pollution, and climate change, affecting species like the Arabian Oryx and Arabian Sand Gazelle.
Driving Factors Behind Environmental Issues
Rapid Urbanization and Industrial Growth
Rapid urbanization and industrial growth strain Saudi Arabia’s natural resources and infrastructure. The urban population grew from 20% in 1950 to 80% in 2000, projected to exceed 90% by 2030. This expansion increases demand for water, energy, and land, contributing to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Industrial activities, particularly petrochemicals, also contribute to pollution and resource depletion.
Arid Climate
Saudi Arabia’s arid climate exacerbates water scarcity and desertification. Most regions receive less than 100 millimeters of rainfall annually and experience high evaporation rates, limiting renewable freshwater sources. This makes the landscape vulnerable to desertification, as dry soils are prone to erosion and degradation. Increased temperatures and altered precipitation patterns linked to climate change further intensify these challenges, leading to longer drought periods.
Resource-Intensive Economy
Saudi Arabia’s historical reliance on a resource-intensive economy, particularly fossil fuels, contributes significantly to its environmental footprint. As the world’s largest oil exporter, its economic prosperity is tied to petroleum extraction and sale, leading to substantial greenhouse gas emissions. High per capita energy and water consumption, partly subsidized by low energy prices, compound environmental pressures. Industrial emissions account for a large portion of the country’s CO2 output.
Population Growth
Population growth increases pressure on natural resources and generates more waste. The population grew from 4 million in 1960 to 36.9 million in 2022, projected to reach 37.2 million in 2024. This expansion correlates with higher demand for food, water, and consumer goods, leading to increased waste volumes and strain on waste management systems.
National Initiatives and Conservation Efforts
Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and Middle East Green Initiative (MGI)
Saudi Arabia launched the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) to address environmental challenges. The SGI aims to plant 10 billion trees and restore 40 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. The MGI expands this ambition, targeting 50 billion trees across the Middle East and restoring 200 million hectares. These initiatives also aim to reduce carbon emissions, with SGI targeting over 4% of global contributions.
Environmental Sustainability in Vision 2030
Environmental sustainability is an integral part of Saudi Vision 2030, the nation’s framework for economic and social transformation. Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy away from oil and includes goals like protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine areas and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. The framework emphasizes balancing economic growth with environmental preservation, ensuring long-term resilience.
Renewable Energy Transition
Saudi Arabia is investing in a renewable energy transition to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By 2030, the country aims to source 50% of its energy mix from renewables, including solar and wind power projects. As of late 2024, Saudi Arabia operated 10 renewable energy projects, including nine solar plants (6,151 MW combined) and one 400 MW wind project. Efforts include large-scale projects like the Sudair Solar Plant and the NEOM clean hydrogen project, aiming to produce 650 tons of green hydrogen daily by 2026.
Water Management Strategies
Water management strategies are being implemented to improve efficiency and explore new technologies. The National Water Strategy 2030 aims to preserve water resources, increase wastewater treatment and reuse, and enhance water infrastructure. Saudi Arabia plans to more than double its desalination capacity to 20 million cubic meters per day by 2030 and targets a 70% wastewater reuse rate. Innovations include energy-efficient reverse osmosis systems, smart water grids, and tailored desalination technologies for agricultural use.
Improvements in Waste Management
Improvements in waste management are underway, with plans to divert 90% of waste streams from landfills by 2040. This includes targets for recycling 40% of waste, composting 31%, and converting 16% into energy. The National Center for Waste Management (MWAN) is developing infrastructure, including over 800 new waste management and resource recovery facilities, and promoting a circular economy. Waste-to-energy projects, such as the Jeddah Waste to Energy Plant and the Riyadh Renewable Energy Project, are converting waste into electricity and biogas.
Conservation and Protected Areas
Conservation and protected areas are expanding to safeguard biodiversity. Under the Saudi Green Initiative, the Kingdom committed to protecting 30% of its terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. This includes establishing new protected areas and managing existing ones, such as the Farasan Islands, home to diverse marine life including coral reefs and endangered dugongs. Efforts also focus on rewilding endangered species and restoring degraded habitats, with initiatives to plant millions of native species seedlings.