Saudi Arabia's Green Revolution: Turning Deserts into Oasis or Just a Mirage?

Saudi Arabia‘s Green Revolution: Turning Deserts into Oasis or Just a Mirage?

KAKALI DAS

When you think of Saudi Arabia, what comes to mind? Endless sand dunes, blazing heat, and, of course, an abundance of oil. But what if I told you this desert kingdom is on an ambitious mission to transform itself into a lush, green paradise? Sounds unbelievable, doesn’t it?

Let’s dive into how Saudi Arabia is embarking on one of history’s most ambitious environmental transformations. Picture turning one of the world’s hottest deserts into something akin to Central Park. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it?

Yet, Saudi Arabia is undeterred, aiming to achieve the environmental equivalent of a miracle—transforming their arid desert into a thriving green oasis.

Saudi Arabia's Green Revolution: Turning Deserts into Oasis or Just a Mirage? — Image: Powershift

For anyone who might have missed geography class, here’s a quick refresher: Saudi Arabia is essentially a massive sandbox sitting atop vast reserves of oil. It’s hot, dry, and about as welcoming to plant life as your average parking lot.

To put its size into perspective, it’s roughly as large as Western Europe, with around 95% of its vast expanse covered in desert. Summers here often bring scorching temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius—hardly the ideal setting for lush forests or verdant meadows.

But the Saudis aren’t letting a harsh climate stand in their way. They have a plan, and this bold vision is designed to shift the country’s economy away from oil and towards, well, pretty much everything else—starting with transforming their desert into a green paradise.

Let’s explore the projects that are aiming to turn this desert into an oasis. First on the list is “The Green Riyadh Project.” Riyadh, the capital, is currently a concrete jungle in the heart of the desert, but that’s about to change. Launched in 2019 as part of Saudi Arabia’s bold Vision 2030, the Green Riyadh Project is set to transform the city in ways you might not expect. The plan includes planting 7.5 million trees across Riyadh by 2030.

But it’s not just about planting millions of trees. The project also aims to boost green space per capita from 1.7 square meters to 28 square meters—a staggering 16-fold increase. Imagine going from barely enough room to stand to having a small garden all to yourself! This initiative is expected to cut CO2 levels in the city by 3% to 6% and reduce temperatures by 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius overall.

In densely forested areas, temperatures could drop by as much as 8 to 15 degrees Celsius. The Green Riyadh Project has an ambitious and detailed plan. It includes lining 16,400 kilometres of roads and streets with trees—that’s like planting trees along a road from New York to Los Angeles and back again.

Additionally, the project will develop 43 public parks, create 3,330 neighbourhood gardens, and establish a 1,100-kilometer green belt. The total investment for this transformative initiative is expected to be around $23 billion over 10 years.

But here’s the catch—planting trees in a desert is no walk in the park. It’s more like running a marathon through quicksand. The costs are astronomical, the engineering challenges are staggering, and keeping these trees alive in a region that gets less than 4 inches of rain a year is a monumental task. But they’ve planned for that too. They’re using 72 tree species specifically chosen for their compatibility with Riyadh’s environment.

To tackle water scarcity, they’re building an advanced irrigation network that will boost the daily use of recycled wastewater from 90,000 cubic meters to over 1.7 million. That’s like going from filling a backyard pool to supplying an entire small lake every single day.

The Green Riyadh Project is just the appetizer—the main course is the Saudi Green Initiative. This is where the ambition truly soars. The goal? To plant 10 billion trees and restore 40 million hectares of degraded land by 2060. So far, they’ve already planted over 43.9 million trees and rehabilitated 94,000 hectares of land—that’s like reforesting an area larger than New York City. Not too shabby for a country that’s mostly desert, right?

But this initiative isn’t just about adding greenery; it’s about combating desertification, enhancing biodiversity, and advancing Saudi Arabia’s climate goals.

The Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), launched in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is a bold effort to tackle climate change and promote sustainability in Saudi Arabia. The SGI has outlined several ambitious objectives.

First, it aims to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes annually by 2030—a significant target for a nation traditionally dependent on fossil fuels.

Second, it plans to plant 10 billion trees over the coming decades, with this extensive reforestation effort set to rehabilitate about 40 million hectares of land—an area larger than the entire country of Japan.

Finally, the initiative focuses on protecting ecosystems, aiming to conserve 30% of Saudi Arabia’s land and marine areas by 2030.

We’re talking about preserving over 600,000 square kilometres—roughly the size of France. And they’re already making tangible progress. In 2022 alone, they planted 18 million trees and rehabilitated 60,000 hectares of land—that’s about the size of Chicago.

On the energy front, they’ve integrated 700 megawatts of solar and wind energy into the grid, enough to power over 100,000 homes. And they’re not stopping there. Seventeen more renewable energy projects are in the pipeline, with a total capacity of nearly 14 gigawatts.

The initiative also places a strong emphasis on wildlife conservation. In 2022, they reintroduced over 1,200 endangered animals across 15 different locations in the country. And let’s not forget the future! Saudi Arabia is betting big on clean hydrogen, with plans to produce 600 tons per day by 2026, as part of what will be the world’s largest clean hydrogen project.

All of this is supported by significant investment—over $186 billion has been committed to these green initiatives. This is a clear signal that Saudi Arabia is serious about transitioning to a green economy and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

Next, we have the King Salman Park, which is set to become the world’s largest urban park. After all, when you’re building in a desert, why not aim for something monumental, right? This park will span an area four times the size of Central Park.

We’re talking about a massive green space covering 16.6 square kilometers (6.4 square miles)—seven times the size of London’s Hyde Park and more than four times larger than New York’s Central Park. Located on the former Riyadh Airbase grounds, this park isn’t just about scale; it’s designed to be a year-round destination that blends nature with modern amenities.

The park will offer a wide range of attractions, including peaceful family-friendly gathering spots, an Islamic-style garden, mazes, and a sanctuary for birds and butterflies. It will feature water elements covering 300,000 square meters, a valley spanning 800,000 square meters, and an impressive 1 million trees that will provide both greenery and shade.

The park will also house a visitors’ pavilion with a cultural information centre, exhibition spaces, and restaurants. Additionally, the royal arts complex will cover 500,000 square meters, featuring theatres, cinemas, and museums. There will be sports and entertainment facilities, including an amusement park, an aqua park, and even a skydiving centre.

The project is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aiming to enhance public health by promoting physical activity and increasing life expectancy. It is also designed with sustainability in mind, featuring elements like rainwater harvesting and energy-efficient systems. Construction is progressing steadily, with over $1 billion in contracts already awarded. The park is now set to open in 2025, slightly behind the original target of 2024.

You might be wondering why Saudi Arabia is undertaking all of this! Well, it’s not just because they’ve suddenly developed a green thumb. There are some significant economic and social factors at play. First and foremost, this is about economic diversification. Saudi Arabia has relied heavily on oil for decades, but they know that the oil boom won’t last forever. By investing in these green initiatives, they are working to create new industries and job opportunities that don’t depend on extracting black gold from the ground.

We’re talking about creating jobs in fields like research, conservation, and even eco-tourism. Imagine a future where people visit Saudi Arabia not for its oil fields, but for its lush forests and cutting-edge green cities. It’s a bold transformation, but that’s exactly what they’re striving for.

Now, let’s understand the environmental benefits! First up, enhanced ecosystem services. So, what does that actually mean? All these trees and plants aren’t just there for decoration—they’re working hard to improve soil fertility and water infiltration. In a place like Saudi Arabia, where the soil is mostly sand and water is scarce, this is a game changer.

Then, there’s the climate change aspect. More vegetation means more carbon sequestration, which is a fancy way of saying that these plants are absorbing CO2 from the air and storing it.

Given that Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest oil producers, they’ve got plenty of carbon karma to balance out. And let’s not overlook biodiversity. By creating vast green spaces and rehabilitating degraded land, Saudi Arabia is helping to create habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species. Who knows, we might even see the return of species that haven’t been seen in the region for centuries.

But doesn’t all of this sound too good to be true? You’re right to be skeptical. Despite all the potential benefits, there are serious challenges and criticisms that need to be addressed. First and foremost, there’s the issue of sustainability. Remember, we’re talking about creating green spaces in one of the hottest, driest places on Earth. Keeping these plants alive is going to require a huge amount of water, and water isn’t exactly in abundance in Saudi Arabia.

While Saudi Arabia is pushing forward with these green initiatives, it remains one of the world’s largest oil producers. It’s a bit like trying to put out a fire while simultaneously pouring gasoline on it. This contradiction has sparked accusations of greenwashing—using environmental initiatives as a PR tool while continuing business as usual. Then, there are the technological and logistical challenges.

Take Neom, for example. Many of the technologies they’re proposing, like flying taxis and robot maids, are still firmly in the realm of science fiction. Even the more feasible technologies, such as large-scale water management systems and renewable energy infrastructure, remain largely untested in the harsh desert environment.

And let’s not overlook the cost. These projects aren’t just ambitious; they’re incredibly expensive. We’re talking billions upon billions of dollars. While Saudi Arabia isn’t exactly short on cash, thanks to its oil wealth, there are concerns about whether this is the best way to allocate resources.

Finally, there’s the ecological angle. While creating green spaces sounds great in theory, we must consider the potential ecological disruptions. Introducing non-native species and dramatically altering the landscape could have unforeseen consequences for the existing desert ecosystem.

So, where does all of this leave us? Despite the challenges, Saudi Arabia’s green ambitions are undeniably inspiring. If they can pull this off, it could have far-reaching implications, not just for Saudi Arabia, but for arid regions worldwide. Imagine if we could turn other deserts green—the Sahara, the Gobi, the Australian Outback—the potential is staggering.

Saudi Arabia could position itself as a leader in desert greening technologies, exporting its expertise to other countries facing similar challenges. And let’s not overlook the symbolic value—Saudi Arabia transforming from an oil-dependent desert kingdom to a global leader in sustainability and green technology. That’s the kind of story that could spark real change on a global scale.

So, what do you think? Can Saudi Arabia successfully transform its deserts into a green paradise, or is this just a mirage in the sand? Is this a genuine effort towards sustainability, or merely a very expensive PR campaign?

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