Why we must reassess our commitment to the environment

As the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow approaches in November, the effects of climate change have never been clearer, especially in the Middle East and North Africa region, where drought and temperatures in excess of 50 C are now the norm. Since 1970, global surface temperatures have risen faster than in any other 50-year period over the past 2,000 years, and over the past 40 years, average temperatures in Saudi Arabia have risen by more than 2 C — three times the current global average.

Now is the time for governments, institutions, and the public and private sectors to act. As a collective we must establish bold efforts for the restoration of ecosystems and the reduction of our environmental footprint to bridge the gap between the pledges made in the 2015 Paris Agreement, limiting global warming to between 1.5 C and 2 C above pre-industrial temperatures, and delivery.

Saudi Arabia has taken a leading role on the global stage of climate change and renewable energy production in particular. Under the Saudi Green Initiative, the Kingdom has pledged to increase the energy mix in the Kingdom to reach 50 percent renewables by 2030 and reduce carbon emissions by more than 4 percent of global contributions.

Diversifying the economy and developing tourism infrastructure that safeguards the environment is a key imperative for Saudi Vision 2030. The tourism sector is one of the most promising elements of the Kingdom’s diversification efforts, with a view to strengthening the Saudi economy by attracting 22.1 million international visitors. However, as the Kingdom accelerates its journey toward placing Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map, it is essential to ensure that its sustainable goals are not lost in the drive for economic growth.

We are reaching a frontier of tourism development: One where environmental and socio-economical visions are aligned from inception

John Pagano

We are reaching a frontier of tourism development: One where environmental and socio-economical visions are aligned from inception. As part of the framework for local action on climate change, we have focused on how the Red Sea Development Co. and AMAALA can best meet the goals of the Saudi Arabia Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land.

Once accomplished, this goal represents an astonishing 4 percent of the global drive to reverse land degradation and 1 percent of global efforts to plant one trillion trees. The target also helps place the Kingdom at the heart of regional efforts to meet international targets on environmental projects, including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the circular carbon economy targets to manage greenhouse emissions across the world.

Both the destinations I lead are at the forefront of the nation’s plan for the future. And like Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, we have set our sights on long-term goals and ambitions. Our landscape nursery on the Red Sea coast is the largest in the region and is set to provide upwards of 25 million plants and trees for landscaping at our destinations.

I believe this goal should be achieved foremost through better business practices across the Kingdom. Businesses and industries are responsible for natural resource depletion on a vast scale worldwide. At the same time, the potential for improvement is equally large — through wholesale adoption of sustainable business practices.

Central to AMAALA's vision is an innovative approach of carbon in setting within its boundary, rather than paying to offset emissions elsewhere. It aims to balance out all carbon produced through renewable power supplies and enhancing natural ecosystems that absorb and sequester carbon. This process will re-establish natural carbon sinks, increase soil health, restore local water cycles, and reverse the loss of forests and biodiversity, all dramatically reducing any environmental impact.

Likewise, the master plan for the Red Sea Project aims to deliver a 30 percent net conservation benefit by 2040, through the expansion of key habitats like mangroves and seagrasses which have a positive impact on biodiversity. They also sequester carbon at a significantly higher rate than other plants as studies suggest mangroves can sequester up to five times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests.

Another key sustainability measure is evident in the approach to powering both destinations. The Red Sea Project will be powered with renewable solar energy, supported by the world’s largest battery storage facility, with no connection to the national grid. The resulting savings in CO2 emissions to the atmosphere are equivalent to nearly half a million tons each year and AMAALA is following suit as discussions with suitable partners are already underway.

All elements of construction and design were conceived with the goal to minimize emissions: off-site manufacturing methods reduce waste and lessen the human impact of construction activities on-site, such as noise, ground disturbance, and vehicle movement; innovative “green concrete,” made of recycled waste materials, significantly reduces CO2 emissions; passive cooling designs based on the principles of Arabic architecture; and designing buildings to achieve the highest sustainability rating, will minimize energy and water demand.

In the words of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “The Kingdom, the region and the world need to go much further and faster in combating climate change.” The journey we have embarked upon seeks greater value for the environment and the nation by tackling complex issues and reassesses our commitment to the environment and to delivering a sustainable, greener future for the next generation.

*John Pagano is the CEO of Red Sea Development Co. and AMAALA