His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, underlining the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, launched the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) in 2021; as a result, March 27 has been designated as the Saudi Green Initiative Day.
Since the launch of Vision 2030, in 2016, Saudi Arabia has made significant progress toward building a more sustainable future. SGI has played a pivotal role in accelerating environment-protection efforts, transitioning the energy sector, and implementing sustainability programmes in various sectors.
The initiative aims to achieve ambitious goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, intensifying afforestation and land rehabilitation, and protecting terrestrial and marine areas.
SGI oversees and brings all national efforts under a single umbrella, fostering the participation of all segments of society and empowering the public and private sectors. The initiative also plays a key role in achieving global climate goals, paving the way for a more sustainable future for the Kingdom and the world.
Since the launch of SGI, 80 related initiatives have been embarked upon, with investments exceeding SAR705 billion. They explore new opportunities in various green economy sectors, accelerate the green transition journey, and cement the Kingdom's leadership in implementing the circular carbon economy model. They also help enhance the quality of life and protect the environment for future generations.
SGI tackles environmental challenges through a three-pronged approach. The first pillar focuses on reducing carbon emissions. This ambitious goal aims to cut emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030. To achieve this, SGI is accelerating Saudi Arabia's transition to renewable energy sources, with a target of 50 % renewable energy in the national energy mix by 2030.
Additionally, the initiative supports investments in new energy sources, promotes energy efficiency, and develops innovative carbon capture and storage programmes , all contributing to mitigating climate change and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
The second pillar prioritises intensifying afforestation and land rehabilitation. This ambitious plan involves planting 10 billion trees across the Kingdom in the coming decades. By rehabilitating 40 million hectares of land and restoring vital green spaces, SGI aims to improve the quality of the air, reduce the incidence of dust and sand storms, and restore vital environmental functions.
The third pillar is the commitment to protecting the Kingdom's rich natural heritage. The initiative aims to protect 30 % of Saudi Arabia's terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. To achieve this, SGI collaborates with leading global organisations, like the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This ensures the preservation of the Kingdom's unique natural habitats for future generations.