Saudi Arabia plans to generate 50% of its energy from renewables, King Salman tells G20

Media persons gathered at the International Media Centre in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on November 21, 2020 watch on a projected screen as King Salman gives an address opening the G20 summit, held virtually due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. (AFP)
Short Url
  • Saudi Arabia has plans to generate up to 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030
  • King expects the circular carbon economy program to accelerate the country’s push toward sustainability

DUBAI: The preservation of the environment is of the utmost importance to Saudi Arabia, which is planning to generate even half of its energy from renewables, King Salman said on Sunday on the last day of the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Riyadh.

In a virtual address at a side event of the summit, the Saudi king spoke about the kingdom's commitment to safeguarding the planet, which includes an ambitious approach to circular carbon economy (CCE) or the “reduce, reuse, recycle, and remove” concept.

“Together, the 4Rs comprise a holistic, integrated, and pragmatic approach that values all options to managing emissions in all sectors,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia has massive plans for developing renewable energy to generate up to 50 percent of the country’s electricity by 2030.

Saudi Arabia is launching CCE National Program, the king said, which he explained will “accelerate the current momentum toward (the country’s) sustainability.”

He urged other countries to join the kingdom in achieving the goals of the program.

Other G20 leaders agreed a coordinated approach was needed to tackle environmental issues such as coral reef preservation, ocean ecosystems, land degradation and habitat loss.