JEDDAH/RIYADH: International Mother Earth Day, which is observed annually on April 22, was established by a 2009 UN General Assembly resolution to recognize the planet as humanity’s shared home and to promote action on climate change, livelihoods, and biodiversity loss.
This year’s theme, “Our power, our planet,” highlights collective responsibility, energy transition, and innovation in addressing environmental challenges. It serves as a reminder that scientists worldwide continue working daily to develop solutions that benefit the planet and our life on it.
Researchers at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology are contributing to global sustainability efforts across food, water, energy, health, and the environment.
Moves include advances in desalination efficiency, clean energy, and environmental monitoring across the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia’s diverse ecosystems.
KAUST also applies artificial intelligence, machine learning, remote sensing, and digital twin technologies to translate research into industrial solutions that help support sustainable growth.
Its entrepreneurship ecosystem further helps transform innovation into impact, while also preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers to support long-term environmental resilience.
David Wallace, director of environmental planning and sustainability at KAUST, told Arab News that the Kingdom had witnessed significant growth in large-scale solar PV and wind projects in recent years.
He said: “As the Kingdom is known for using oil and gas for power generation, the scale of renewables is not acknowledged, but it is astonishing — from next to no capacity to nearly 60 GW.”
He added that this aligned with Vision 2030’s target of 130 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
However, challenges remain, and he noted: “The intermittent nature of solar and wind power requires robust, advanced battery storage solutions to ensure grid reliability as the share of renewables increases.”
He also highlighted structural challenges, including reliance on large-scale projects, limited household adoption due to cost and awareness barriers, dust-related maintenance needs, and high cooling demand driven by air conditioning.
Energy transition has also been highlighted by industry leader Jeremy Crane, group CEO of Yellow Door Energy.
He told Arab News: “This year’s Earth Day theme, ‘Our Power, our Planet,’ highlights the growing importance of energy resilience across the Middle East.
“Solar energy, particularly distributed solar PV, offers businesses a practical way to strengthen energy security, especially when combined with battery energy storage.”
Founded over a decade ago, Yellow Door Energy today supports more than 100 businesses across the region as they transition to solar power.
By accelerating solar adoption, businesses are also contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the aim of net zero by 2060.
Environmental progress is also being reported across multiple Saudi institutions.
The National Center for Wildlife said on its X platform: “When we protect wildlife, we protect the Earth, and we help our planet thrive.”
The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority said its efforts had enhanced biodiversity across more than 130,700 sq. km, and it had recorded over 550 plant species, 350 animal species, and more than 290 bird species, which reflected ecological restoration aligned with national sustainability goals.
The National Center for Palms and Dates reported that Saudi Arabia was home to more than 37 million palm trees across its regions, noting continued efforts to protect and sustain this vital agricultural resource.
In the healthcare sector, the Ministry of Health has announced major reductions in medical waste per hospital bed: some 50 percent overall, 72 percent in liquid waste, and 45 percent in hazardous waste.
It has also reported a 96 percent compliance rate in waste reporting across hospitals nationwide, alongside the rollout of solar energy projects in more than 500 healthcare facilities, in support of Vision 2030’s renewable energy goals.
At the national level, the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative help to drive the Kingdom’s climate agenda.
More than 49 million trees have been planted, over 2,000 MW of renewable energy is currently in use, and 8,000 MW under development. The rehabilitation of 94,000 hectares of degraded land has taken place while 1,660 endangered animals have been reintroduced.
Protected areas now cover 18 percent of Saudi Arabia’s land and 6.5 percent of its marine zones, alongside major conservation and reforestation initiatives, including $25 million allocated to protect the Arabian leopard and the planting of 250,000 seedlings in AlUla nurseries.
More than 80 initiatives are currently being implemented across 13 regions, with investments exceeding SR705 billion ($188 billion), underscoring the Kingdom’s long-term commitment to environmental transformation and climate action.
