Carbon Emissions in Saudi Arabia

Carbon Emissions in Saudi Arabia: Scale, Sources, and Strategy

Saudi Arabia is among the world’s largest carbon dioxide emitters, with total annual CO2 emissions of approximately 600 million tonnes. On a per-capita basis, emissions exceed 18 tonnes per person per year, placing the Kingdom among the highest emitters globally. This emissions profile reflects the dominance of hydrocarbon combustion in power generation, transportation, industry, and desalination, combined with a climate that demands intensive energy consumption for cooling.

Sectoral Emissions Breakdown

Power Generation: The electricity sector is the single largest source of CO2 emissions, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of the total. The heavy reliance on crude oil and natural gas for power generation, combined with the extreme seasonal demand driven by air conditioning, creates a substantial emissions footprint. Transitioning the power mix towards renewable energy and improving energy efficiency are the primary levers for reducing power sector emissions.

Industry: The industrial sector, including oil refining, petrochemicals, cement production, and steel manufacturing, contributes approximately 25 per cent of total emissions. Saudi Arabia’s position as a major petrochemical producer and one of the world’s largest oil refiners generates significant process emissions alongside energy-related CO2. Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technology is being deployed at industrial facilities to mitigate these emissions.

Transport: The transportation sector accounts for roughly 20 per cent of emissions, driven by road transport in a geographically vast country with limited public transit. Vehicle fleet electrification, public transport development in major cities including the Riyadh Metro, and fuel efficiency standards are policy instruments targeting transport emissions reduction.

Other Sources: Desalination, which is energy-intensive and predominantly powered by hydrocarbons, contributes meaningfully to the emissions profile. Agriculture, waste management, and fugitive emissions from oil and gas production account for the remaining share.

Saudi Green Initiative

Launched in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) represents the Kingdom’s comprehensive environmental and climate framework. Key SGI commitments include reducing carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes annually by 2030, generating 50 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, planting 10 billion trees across the Kingdom and broader region, and protecting 30 per cent of the Kingdom’s land and marine areas.

The SGI is complemented by the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), which extends climate action commitments to regional partners. Saudi Arabia hosted the MGI Summit alongside COP-adjacent climate discussions, positioning the Kingdom as a regional climate leader.

Circular Carbon Economy

Saudi Arabia has championed the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework as an alternative to the exclusive focus on emissions reduction through fuel switching. The CCE framework, endorsed during Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency in 2020, encompasses four pillars: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Remove. This approach emphasises carbon capture and storage, direct air capture, carbon utilisation in industrial processes, and enhanced oil recovery using captured CO2.

The Kingdom is developing several CCUS projects, including facilities at Jubail Industrial City and integration with hydrogen production processes. The Jafurah gas field development includes plans for significant CCUS capacity. Saudi Arabia’s CCUS ambitions position the Kingdom among the global leaders in carbon management technology deployment.

Emissions Intensity Trends

While absolute emissions remain high, emissions intensity relative to GDP has shown improvement. Economic diversification towards less carbon-intensive service sectors, energy efficiency gains in buildings and industry, and the deployment of renewable generation capacity contribute to declining carbon intensity. The Kingdom’s Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement reflects these improvement trajectories.

International Positioning

Saudi Arabia’s climate strategy balances environmental commitments with the economic reality of being the world’s largest oil exporter. The Kingdom advocates for technology-driven solutions, including hydrogen, CCUS, and renewable energy, rather than immediate hydrocarbon phase-down. This position reflects both economic interests and a genuine belief that technological innovation can decouple emissions from energy production.

Outlook

Saudi Arabia’s carbon emissions trajectory will be determined by the pace of renewable energy deployment, the success of CCUS at scale, energy efficiency improvements, and the evolution of the transport sector. The net zero 2060 target provides a long-term anchor for emissions reduction planning, while near-term 2030 targets create intermediate accountability. For investors, the intersection of emissions reduction and economic diversification creates opportunities across clean energy, efficiency technologies, and carbon management.