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A Critical, Temporal Analysis of Saudi Arabia’s Initiatives for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction in the Energy Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Muhitur Rahman

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Md Arif Hasan

    (Climate Change Response Unit, Wellington City Council, 113 The Terrace, Wellington 6011, New Zealand)

  • Md Shafiullah

    (Interdisciplinary Research Center for Renewable Energy and Power Systems, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammad Shahedur Rahman

    (Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 13318, Saudi Arabia)

  • Md Arifuzzaman

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Md. Kamrul Islam

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammed Monirul Islam

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Syed Masiur Rahman

    (Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Saudi Arabia were more than three times the global average emissions in 2019. The energy sector is the most dominant GHG-emitting sector in the country; its energy consumption has increased over five times in the last four decades, from over 2000 quadrillion joules in 1981 to around 11,000 quadrillion joules in 2019, while the share of renewable energy in 2019 was only 0.1%. To reduce GHG emissions, the Saudi Arabian government has undertaken initiatives for improving energy efficiency and increasing the production of renewable energies in the country. However, there are few investigative studies into the effectiveness of these initiatives in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study provides an overview of the various energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives undertaken in Saudi Arabia. Then, it evaluates the effectiveness of energy-related policies and initiatives using an indicator-based approach. In addition, this study performs temporal and econometrics analyses to understand the trends and the causal relationships among various drivers of energy sector emissions. Energy intensity and efficiency have improved moderately in recent years. This study will support policymakers in identifying significant policy gaps in reducing the emissions from the energy sector; furthermore, this study will provide a reference for tracking the progress of their policy initiatives. In addition, the methodology used in this study could be applied in other studies to evaluate various climate change policies and their progress.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Muhitur Rahman & Md Arif Hasan & Md Shafiullah & Mohammad Shahedur Rahman & Md Arifuzzaman & Md. Kamrul Islam & Mohammed Monirul Islam & Syed Masiur Rahman, 2022. "A Critical, Temporal Analysis of Saudi Arabia’s Initiatives for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction in the Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12651-:d:933859
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aldubyan, Mohammad & Gasim, Anwar, 2021. "Energy price reform in Saudi Arabia: Modeling the economic and environmental impacts and understanding the demand response," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PB).
    2. Muhammad Muhitur Rahman & Mohammad Shahedur Rahman & Saidur R. Chowdhury & Alaeldeen Elhaj & Shaikh Abdur Razzak & Syed Abu Shoaib & Md Kamrul Islam & Mohammed Monirul Islam & Sayeed Rushd & Syed Masi, 2022. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Industrial Processes and Product Use Sector of Saudi Arabia—An Emerging Challenge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Khondaker, A.N. & Hasan, Md. Arif & Rahman, Syed Masiur & Malik, Karim & Shafiullah, Md & Muhyedeen, Musah A, 2016. "Greenhouse gas emissions from energy sector in the United Arab Emirates – An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1317-1325.
    4. Jorge Blazquez & Marzio Galeotti & Baltasar Manzano & Axel Pierru & Shreekar Pradhan, 2020. "Analyzing the Effects of Saudi Arabia’s Economic Reforms Using a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Model," Discussion Papers ks--2020-dp11, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Abdulrazak H. Almaliki & Abdessamed Derdour & Enas Ali, 2023. "Air Quality Index (AQI) Prediction in Holy Makkah Based on Machine Learning Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Khalid Mohammed Almatar, 2022. "Transit-Oriented Development in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh as a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Sultan J. Alharbi & Abdulaziz S. Alaboodi, 2023. "A Review on Techno-Economic Study for Supporting Building with PV-Grid-Connected Systems under Saudi Regulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Mohana Alanazi & Hani Attar & Ayman Amer & Ayesha Amjad & Mahmoud Mohamed & Mohammed Sh. Majid & Khalid Yahya & Mohamed Salem, 2023. "A Comprehensive Study on the Performance of Various Tracker Systems in Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-28, July.
    5. Muhammad Muhitur Rahman & Runa Akter & Jaber Bin Abdul Bari & Md Arif Hasan & Mohammad Shahedur Rahman & Syed Abu Shoaib & Ziad Nayef Shatnawi & Ammar Fayez Alshayeb & Faisal Ibrahim Shalabi & Aminur , 2022. "Analysis of Climate Change Impacts on the Food System Security of Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.
    6. Fahad Saleh Al-Ismail & Md Shafiul Alam & Md Shafiullah & Md Ismail Hossain & Syed Masiur Rahman, 2023. "Impacts of Renewable Energy Generation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Muhammad Muhitur Rahman & Syed Masiur Rahman & Md Shafiullah & Md Arif Hasan & Uneb Gazder & Abdullah Al Mamun & Umer Mansoor & Mohammad Tamim Kashifi & Omer Reshi & Md Arifuzzaman & Md Kamrul Islam &, 2022. "Energy Demand of the Road Transport Sector of Saudi Arabia—Application of a Causality-Based Machine Learning Model to Ensure Sustainable Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-21, December.

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