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Climate Change and Its Impacts: A Focus on Saudi Arabia

Leen Nofal

US 130

Professor Elizabeth Kocs

28th Oct. 2024

Climate Change and Its Impacts: A Focus on Saudi Arabia

AI-Generated Content

"Climate change poses a significant threat to global ecosystems, economies, and human health,

making it a priority for international action. One of the critical milestones in this effort was the

signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, which established a global framework for reducing

greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees

Celsius, with a target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Countries are

encouraged to set their own nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reflect their

circumstances and capacities (United Nations, 2015). The impacts of climate change are

particularly pronounced in arid regions like Saudi Arabia, where rising temperatures and

changing precipitation patterns threaten water resources, agriculture, and public health. As one

of the world's largest oil producers, Saudi Arabia faces a dual challenge: the need to reduce

emissions while continuing to rely on fossil fuels for economic stability (World Bank, 2021).

In addition to the Paris Agreement, the development of solar energy technologies since the

1950s has been a pivotal milestone in the global transition to renewable energy. Solar panels,

which convert sunlight into electricity, provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and have

seen dramatic reductions in cost and increases in efficiency over the past few decades.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar energy has become one of the fastest-

growing sources of energy globally, and Saudi Arabia has immense potential for solar power

given its geographical location (IEA, 2021).

In response to these challenges, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in diversifying its

energy portfolio. The country's Vision 2030 plan emphasizes sustainability and aims to increase

the share of renewable energy in its overall energy mix. Projects such as the Sakaka PV Solar
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Power Plant, which began operation in 2019, represent Saudi Arabia's commitment to

harnessing its abundant solar resources (Saudi Vision 2030, 2023).

Furthermore, the Kingdom has set ambitious targets for reducing its carbon footprint. In 2021,

Saudi Arabia announced its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and introduced its

National Industrial Strategy, which includes plans for green hydrogen production and

investment in carbon capture technologies (Saudi Ministry of Energy, 2021). These initiatives

reflect a growing recognition of the need for sustainable development and environmental

stewardship. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain. Water scarcity is a pressing

issue exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable agricultural practices. The World Bank

projects that by 2030, the water supply in the Middle East and North Africa could drop by up to

50% if current consumption trends continue (World Bank, 2021). This situation is particularly

alarming for a country like Saudi Arabia, which relies heavily on desalination and underground

aquifers.

In conclusion, while the Paris Agreement and advancements in solar technology mark crucial

milestones in the global fight against climate change, the situation in Saudi Arabia underscores

the complex interplay between economic reliance on fossil fuels and the urgent need for

sustainable practices. As the Kingdom navigates this transition, its efforts could serve as a

model for other oil-dependent nations facing similar challenges."

Reflection on the Sources

The sources provided in the above AI research present a comprehensive overview of

climate change and its implications for Saudi Arabia. The United Nations Paris Agreement is a

credible source as it is a foundational document endorsed by nearly all countries, highlighting the

global consensus on climate action. However, the GPT did not generate an accessible link, so I
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had to look up the source manually to ascertain its credibility. The World Bank report offers vital

insights into the regional impacts of climate change, emphasizing the vulnerabilities of the

Middle East and North Africa and demonstrating its credibility and relevance for the research.

The IEA's analysis of renewable energy trends is authoritative, given its focus on data-driven

assessments of energy markets, making it an essential resource for understanding sustainable

innovations such as solar power advancements and the efforts to minimize environmental

damage through the use of dangerous energy sources like fossil fuels. While these sources are

accessible when searched manually online, incorporating peer-reviewed academic articles on the

topic would bolster the analysis by providing rigorous research methodologies and in-depth

studies that are written and reviewed by scholars.

Additionally, including local case studies from communities severely affected by climate

change could offer a more accurate picture of the devastation climate change has inflicted on

people. The actual human experience behind the data makes the study more credible, soliciting

actionable measures. Essentially, the sources accurately outline the challenges and initiatives in

combating climate change. However, expanding the range of references to include academic

journals and qualitative accounts works can further enrich the discussion and provide a holistic

understanding of climate change. This will support the existing studies and highlight the personal

and societal impacts of climate change, fostering a deeper connection to the global concern.

Section 3: Climate Change and Its Impacts: A Focus on Saudi Arabia

Climate change is no longer a distant reality but rather a present reality in which we live

today (IPCC,2021). This statement is a wake-up call to address the problem, starting with

regions like Saudi Arabia, where the effects of climate change are experienced the most. This

research note explores the significant milestones in combating global climate change, giving
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special focus to the Paris Agreement and technological advancements in the renewable energy

sector. Additionally, the study examines historical innovations that laid the foundation for

current efforts and the vital technological and policy developments that have steered progress

toward a sustainable future.

Milestone 1: The Paris Climate Agreement (2015)

The Paris Agreement of 2015 was a critical milestone that encouraged climate change

action. The landmark convention aimed to invite nations and unite them to fight against the

global problem of climate change. It established frameworks to reduce the number one agent

affecting climate- greenhouse emissions. Furthermore, the Paris Agreement recommended

ambitious standards that, if followed, can substantially limit global warming, currently at 2

degrees Celsius, to as low as 1.5 degrees Celsius (Denchak, 2021). Following this convention,

many countries have inspired and developed their own Nationally Determined Contributions

(NDCs), which help them to promote accountability and transparency on matters of climate

action and improvements (Denchak, 2021). For example, Saudi Arabia resorted to economic

diversification from fossil energy to other eco-friendly alternatives and investing in renewable

energy and related technologies. The Kingdom has historically relied on oil exportation,

contributing significantly to its economy (OpenAI, 2024). With the new alternatives of economic

diversification, balancing the county's economic interests linked to fossil energy has become a

major stumbling block to sustainable practices.

Milestone 2: Development of Solar Panels and Investment in Renewable Energy

The development of solar panels in the 1950s market was yet another significant feat as a

clean energy revolution. The photovoltaic technology significantly reduced reliance on fossil

energy because it harnessed sunlight into electricity, also known as clean energy, offering an
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eco-friendly alternative (Greeen et al., 2020). The use of this method of energy production is

more impactful in desert regions such as Saudi Arabia, enabling effective sunlight energy

harnessing. The discovery of alternative energy production through solar technology has made

the government invest in solar firms across the cities of Saudi Arabia. Currently, the Kingdom is

expecting to generate over 58.7 gigawatts of solar energy by 2030 (KACARE, 2023). While

solar energy is an alternative clean energy source for the country, the installation of solar panel

technology is limited due to high initial and maintenance costs. Besides, Saudi Arabia

extensively relies on imported technology, deterring local job creation and economic incentives

to local manufacturers.

Experience 1: Technological Advancements

The current advancement in technology would not be possible without prior attempts to

adopt renewable energy options. Battery storage technology was the first attempt to address

intermittency issues associated with renewable energy sources. More efficient options, such as

lithium-ion batteries, have bridged the gap, enabling maximum energy storage during peak

sunlight hours (Greeen et al., 2020). The later technology enhanced grid reliability, thereby

facilitating an easier transition to renewable energy systems experienced today.

Fig. 1: Technology breakthroughs 2022: Energy storage - Crystol Energy (Nakhle, 2022)

Experience 2: Policy Implementation

Apart from technological advancements, policy implementation has crucially enabled the

transition to clean energy to progress, achieving some of the energy goals recommended by

environment-conscious nations. Many counties, for instance, have allocated subsidies and given

tax incentives to individuals and organizations that establish renewable energy projects. The

government's incentivization of taxes and subsidies on these projects has encouraged massive

investment by local and multinational companies in renewable energy (International et al., 2024).

In the case of Saudi Arabia, its 2030 vision plan emphasizes financial support for clean energy

projects to decarbonize the region and diversify economic activities (OpenAI, 2024). This means

Saudi will not only reduce its oil production and exportation but also consider other sources of

income generation for its economy. Such policies stimulate economic growth and investment in

renewable energy, attracting foreign investments.

Fig. 2: Saudi Arabia’s GDP Growth and Diversification (IMF)

Summary and Conclusion

The third research note (RN3) above highlights the crucial milestones like the Paris

Agreement (2015) and technological advancements that continually shaped how individuals,

organizations, and countries respond to climate change. The focus on Saudi Arabia highlights

how the country has achieved significant feats towards adopting green energy and reducing fossil

fuel dependency. Historical events have set the trajectory for the actualization of current

successes by emphasizing the need for countries to cooperate and realize the common goal of

minimizing the effects of climate change. Notwithstanding, the role of technological innovation

has been instrumental in this endeavor. The adoption of effective energy storage means and

environmentally sustainable policy implementations continue to impact sustainable practices.

This progress attests to the fact that Saudi Arabia is on the right path toward achieving a more

sustainable future. Understanding these milestones will help to navigate the current and

foreseeable climate challenges.

References

Denchak, M. (2021). Paris Climate Agreement: Everything You Need to Know. Be a Force for

the Future.

Green, M.A., Emery, K., Hishikawa, Y., Warta, W., & Zou, J. (2020). Solar cell efficiency tables

(version 55). Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications.

International Monetary Fund. (2024). Saudi Arabia: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release;

and staff report in IMF staff country reports volume 2024 issue 280 (2024).

IPCC. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Retrieved from IPCC

KACARE. (2023). King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy. Retrieved from

KACARE

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (October 28 version) [Large language model].https://chatgpt.com/