Environment & Sustainability

Will the Kingdom we hand to our children be liveable?

Vibrant Society pillar15 sources7 metricsLast reviewed 2026-05-16

What this means for citizens

Greener cities (the Green Riyadh program is reshaping the capital), cleaner air targets for the major cities, protected wadis and coral reefs, and a long-term plan that takes the dependency-on-oil question seriously. None of this will be easy in a desert climate — but the trajectory is real and visible.

Hero metric

Renewable energy capacity target by 2030

Renewables ~2% of electricity in 2024

130 GW

Long-term target

2024 baseline · Renewables ~2% of electricity in 2024Target · 2030 · 130 GW renewable (50% of power mix)

6.2 GW connected, 20 GW launched in 2025, 44.2 GW under development — enough capacity for >7M homes once operational. 100M+ trees planted since 2021. 118,000 ha of degraded land rehabilitated.

In progressOfficial3 sources1 official1 news1 analysis

Publishers include: Saudi Green Initiative · AGSI · SolarQuarter

The Story

Before

Saudi Arabia is one of the world's hottest, driest countries — and one of its largest oil producers. Both facts made climate action seem an unlikely fit. Pre-2021, the Kingdom had no unified sustainability framework, and renewables made up roughly 0% of the power mix.

Initiative

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) in March 2021, alongside the Middle East Green Initiative. The framework has four pillars: plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40M hectares; protect 30% of land and sea; achieve 50% renewable electricity by 2030 (~130 GW capacity); reduce emissions 278 million tonnes/year by 2030, on a path to net-zero by 2060. Investment commitments now exceed SAR 705 billion across 86 initiatives.

Outcome

By the 4th SGI Forum (2025): 100M+ trees and shrubs planted since 2021; 118,000 hectares of degraded land rehabilitated; 6.2 GW renewable capacity already connected to the grid; 20 GW of projects launched in 2025 alone; 44.2 GW under development. Saudi Arabia built the world's largest single-phase battery energy storage system (Bisha, 2.6 GWh) in January 2025.

For citizens

Supporting metrics

Renewable projects launched 2025

20 GW

2025

Renewable capacity under development

44.2 GW (powers 7M+ homes)

2025

SGI initiatives

2025

SGI investment commitments

SAR 705B+

Cumulative

Emissions reduction target

278 Mt CO2/year by 2030

Target

Net-zero target

2060

Long-term

SARCO and Ally Hydrogen sign Jazan green ammonia MoU

Saudi Arabia Refineries Co. (SARCO) signs a non-binding memorandum of understanding with China's Ally Hydrogen Energy to establish a green ammonia plant at Jazan Industrial City, alongside a local hydrogen equipment hub and a joint R&D centre with Saudi universities. Part of the kingdom's stated path to 1.2 million tonnes of annual green hydrogen production by 2030.

Citizen impact: Industrial capacity for a low-carbon export economy starts being built locally — equipment manufacturing in Jazan, hydrogen R&D inside Saudi universities, with downstream jobs in a sector that didn't exist a decade ago.

Capacity2026

Jazan mango production — 65,000+ tonnes/year

Jazan accounts for ~60% of Saudi mango output with 1M+ trees — regional agricultural strength under the strategic-imports food security model.

Partnership2026

Tarshid signs solar agreement for Green MODON Initiative

National energy services company partners on industrial-city solar deployment — supports industrial-city decarbonization.

ReformMar 2021

Saudi Green Initiative launched

National climate program announced with a 10-billion-tree commitment, 50% renewable electricity by 2030, and a 2060 net-zero target.

Programs delivering these outcomes · 4

SGI

program

Saudi Green Initiative

Announced in March 2021, the umbrella program for the kingdom's domestic decarbonization targets: 50% renewable electricity by 2030, 10 billion trees planted within the kingdom, 30% of land area designated as protected, and net-zero emissions by 2060. As of 2025, SAR 705 billion has been allocated across 86 initiatives under the SGI label.

MGI

program

Middle East Green Initiative

The regional counterpart to SGI, also announced in 2021. Pledges 40 billion trees planted across the MENA region by 2030 (with the kingdom contributing 10 billion under SGI), reduction of regional carbon emissions by 60%, and coordinated dust and sand storm mitigation. Hosts include the kingdom, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.

ACWA Power

institution

Saudi Arabia's flagship utility-scale renewables developer. PIF-backed, listed on the Tadawul. Developed the kingdom's largest operational solar plants (Sudair, Al Shuaibah) and is the lead developer on the NEOM green hydrogen project. Operates across 12 countries with a portfolio of solar, wind, and water-desalination projects.

SALIC

institution

Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company

PIF-owned strategic food-security vehicle, established 2011. Holds agricultural land and processing operations in Ukraine, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, and elsewhere — securing long-horizon supply of grains, animal feed, and protein for the Saudi market following the 2008-2016 domestic wheat phaseout. Owns G3 Global Grain Group (Canada's largest grain handler) and Continental Farmers Group (Ukraine's largest cropping operation). The institutional answer to the food-security side of Saudi water scarcity.

Evidence library · 5 sources

Filter coming in 2.1

4th SGI Forum — Progress on All Targets

Saudi Green InitiativeGreening Saudi: 100+ million trees, 130 GW renewable target

Tier 12025

Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Renewables

AGSIGreening Saudi: 100+ million trees, 130 GW renewable target

Tier 32025-09-08

Saudi Green Initiative Advances Environmental and Sustainability Goals

SolarQuarterGreening Saudi: 100+ million trees, 130 GW renewable target

Tier 22025-03-19

Life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to 79.7 years in 2025 — traffic mortality −60% since 2016