**Saharan Dust Storms: Key Impacts and Considerations for San Antonio City Planning**

**Nature & Recurrence:**
- Saharan dust storms occur annually, moving dust from Africa across the Atlantic to the Americas, especially from late spring to early fall.

- Texas and particularly the San Antonio area experience these events regularly during this period.

**Weather & Air Conditions:**
- Dust temporarily decreases air quality, often triggering health advisories.

- The particulate matter can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies.

- Visibility on roads may drop during high dust concentrations, potentially impacting traffic safety.

- Dust layers reflect sunlight and can limit heating at the surface, sometimes leading to mild drops in daytime temperatures but may increase night-time temperatures by trapping heat.

- Dust particles can also suppress rainfall by preventing cloud droplets from combining into larger raindrops, influencing local drought-flood cycles.

**Impacts on Infrastructure:**
- Power grids can be stressed if dust and associated heat keep people indoors and increase AC usage.

- Sensitive equipment (e.g., in power substations or water utilities) may require extra air filtration or maintenance as dust can infiltrate systems.

**Public Health:**
- Vulnerable populations include children, elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

- Health advisories are sometimes issued, encouraging limiting outdoor activities when air quality is low.

**Historical Impacts:**
- Large-scale Saharan dust events have affected air quality through the Gulf Coast, Caribbean, Central America, and as far as the Southeast U.S.

(e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana).

- In San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country, these events tend to coincide with periods of drought or thunderstorms, and can impact water resources by altering precipitation patterns.

- Prepare emergency services for increased respiratory distress calls.

**Saharan Dust Storms: Key Impacts and Considerations for San Antonio City Planning**

**Nature & Recurrence:**
- Saharan dust storms occur annually, moving dust from Africa across the Atlantic to the Americas, especially from late spring to early fall.

Title:

Content: Hurricane Killer? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust

Dust from Africa moves across the Atlantic every year from late spring to early fall

It’s a common visitor in the summer months: dust from the Saharan Desert. Hazy skies and occasional allergies are common issues caused by the dust. But did you know that this layer of dust is more interesting than it appears? Here are some things you may not know about Saharan dust:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Millions of tons of dust are transported across the Atlantic every year
  • Nutrient-rich Saharan dust plays a crucial role in the global ecosystem
  • Dust suppresses hurricane development

WHOLE LOTTA DUST!

Every year, from late spring to early fall, trade winds transport 180 million tons of dust from the Saharan Desert across the Atlantic Ocean. Impressively, that’s as much as 4.5 million 18-wheelers full of dust!

NATURE’S BEST FRIEND

Saharan dust is often rich in nutrients like iron and phosphorus. As the dust settles over the ocean, it fertilizes algae and plankton, allowing them to grow and flourish in an otherwise barren environment. These organisms are vital sources of food for ocean life.

Similarly, as the dust settles over land, areas like the Amazon rainforest benefit from the extra nutrients.

HURRICANE EXTINGUISHER

The African dust that moves across the Atlantic Ocean is also called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). The SAL occurs in waves at the same time as Atlantic hurricane season, from June through November.

It’s known that the SAL limits hurricane development and strength. This is because tropical storms like hurricanes need deep, rich moisture from the surface to the top of the atmosphere to survive. Since the air carrying Saharan dust is usually dry, it can prevent storms from forming and suppress existing storms from growing and strengthening.

DUST’S IMPACT ON TEXAS

While a dense plume of dust sometimes causes minor allergy-like symptoms for some, the most noticeable impact is on Texas skies. A haze often forms on the horizon, giving an ordinarily clear, blue sky a milky hue during the day.

At sunrise and sunset, the horizon can appear brilliantly orange because, with dust in the air, sunlight has more particles to bounce off.

About the Author

Sarah Spivey is a San Antonio native who grew up watching KSAT. She has been a proud member of the KSAT Weather Authority Team since 2017. Sarah is a Clark High School and Texas A&M University graduate. She previously worked at KTEN News. When Sarah is not busy forecasting, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, and playing music.

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What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

- Texas and particularly the San Antonio area experience these events regularly during this period.

Title:

Content: Heavy rain potential this week in San Antonio with Tropical Storm Watches along Texas Coast

Rain around San Antonio will begin midday Wednesday, ending late Thursday

As we’ve been reporting, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring the Gulf of Mexico for tropical storm development. Regardless of development, the impact to San Antonio will be times of heavy rainfall Wednesday and Thursday this week. Here’s what you need to know:

KEY POINTS

  • Latest indications continue to suggest that this system would move west towards Mexico, with the higher wind impacts staying well south of our area
  • However, the area of low pressure will throw deep, tropical moisture and rain north into San Antonio and South Central Texas
  • As of now, scattered tropical downpours are forecast to develop on Wednesday and Thursday, along with cooler temperatures
  • The highest rain totals will be near the coast, but totals in the range of at least 2″-5″ are looking possible closer to San Antonio

HOW MUCH RAIN?

Highest rainfall totals will be near the Texas Coast with up to 7″of rain possible from Tuesday through Thursday. Farther inland, near San Antonio, the number is closer to 2″ to 5″. In the Hill Country, 1″ to 3″.

Please be mindful that it won’t be raining all day Wednesday and Thursday. Rather, there will be times of heavy rain. Still, this could lead to street flooding so please be cautious and check the radar before driving Wednesday and Thursday.

THE LATEST

As of Monday evening, “Potential Tropical Cyclone One” (PTC 1) was located over the Bay of Campeche and is expected to strengthen into a weak tropical storm named Alberto with winds of 45 mph by Wednesday. It is anticipated to stay relatively weak and make landfall in northeastern Mexico by Thursday morning.

If the storm were to take a more northerly track than anticipated, it would result in gusty winds and minor storm surge along Coastal Texas. As a result, Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for areas from South Padre Island to Galveston/Coastal Houston.

IMPORTANT: Even though San Antonio and Texas are not in the direct path of the potential tropical storm, we will still see impacts from this system, mainly in the form of heavy, tropical downpours. Times of drought-denting rain would begin midday Wednesday and end by Thursday evening.

TROPICAL STORM NAMES FOR 2024

While details will still need to be fine-tuned in regards to how this system will evolve, we know that it’s forecast to be a busy season across the Atlantic Basin. Here is the list of names that will be used for tropical storms and hurricanes this season.

About the Author

Sarah Spivey is a San Antonio native who grew up watching KSAT. She has been a proud member of the KSAT Weather Authority Team since 2017. Sarah is a Clark High School and Texas A&M University graduate. She previously worked at KTEN News. When Sarah is not busy forecasting, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, and playing music.

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What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

**Weather & Air Conditions:**
- Dust temporarily decreases air quality, often triggering health advisories.

Title:

Content: Breaking News
More () »

San Antonians may want to stay indoors next week. Here's why.

A noticeable change in the air will arrive to the Alamo City next week.

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio skies could look quite different next week but not in the way we're hoping for.

As San Antonians eagerly wait for rain to break our triple-digit temperatures another common occurrence will pick-up next week known as Saharan dust.

The dust is a combination of sand and dust traveling from North Africa across the Atlantic that peaking in late June through mid-August.

Light amounts of Saharan dust have arrived to the Alamo City this past week but will become more noticeable. Therefore, if you have asthma, COPD or any other type of respiratory illness you will want to stay indoors as much as possible during this time.

Timing of Saharan dust:

Monday - Little changes will be in the forecast as heavier amounts of dust remain over the gulf coast.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Tuesday - A large moderate level of Saharan dust will move into South Texas and San Antonio by late afternoon. San Antonians may notice hazy skies and trouble breathing if you're more sensitive to dusty air. But the dust doesn't stop here.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Wednesday - By mid-week Saharan dust ramps up continuing to build and push farther north stretching to the Dallas area. The continuing flow of the dust is partly due to a high pressure bringing a southeasterly flow to help pump the dust toward South Texas.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

Thursday - As the week progresses dust levels continue to rise and could affect air quality levels. For those with any respiratory illnesses they should avoid outdoor activity including vigorous exercise. Also try to keep windows and doors closed. We will continue to monitor this development next week.

Credit: KENS 5 Weather

As dust increases across the area, San Antonians will notice more vibrant sunrises and sunsets. However, during the afternoons the sky appears a more milky white color.

Before You Leave, Check This Out

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

- The particulate matter can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

- Visibility on roads may drop during high dust concentrations, potentially impacting traffic safety.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative effects of Saharan dust storm on infrastructure?

- Dust layers reflect sunlight and can limit heating at the surface, sometimes leading to mild drops in daytime temperatures but may increase night-time temperatures by trapping heat.

What are the positive effects of Saharan dust on the environment?

cools the Earth's atmosphere
reflects sunlight back into space

- Dust particles can also suppress rainfall by preventing cloud droplets from combining into larger raindrops, influencing local drought-flood cycles.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

**Impacts on Infrastructure:**
- Power grids can be stressed if dust and associated heat keep people indoors and increase AC usage.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

- Sensitive equipment (e.g., in power substations or water utilities) may require extra air filtration or maintenance as dust can infiltrate systems.

How can the authorities prepare for a Saharan dust storm?

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

**Public Health:**
- Vulnerable populations include children, elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

Title:

Content: Equilibrium/Sustainability

Equilibrium/Sustainability — Presented by Southern Company — Migration, security threats run together in warming world

Today is Thursday.  Welcome to Equilibrium, a newsletter that tracks the growing global battle over the future of sustainability. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.

The Biden administration issued an ominous forecast for the planet on Thursday morning, with one official declaring that “no country will be spared from the challenges directly related to climate change,” according to CNN.

The official was introducing a series of reports from key federal agencies on impacts of climate change, which ranged from a White House study on the rise in global migration, to a Defense Department review of security risks, to upcoming reports from the Director of National Intelligence and Department of Homeland Security.

The White House migration report dissects a feedback loop in which heightened migration can result from — as well as lead to —  greater instability and violence by “non-state armed groups,” creating a cycle that erodes the ability of destination countries to respond effectively to climate disruption.

The study “was very careful not to frame migration as a purely negative coping mechanism” but stressed the need for it to become a “safe, orderly and humane pathway,” the official said.

Today we’re looking at other causes and effects of that climate disruption. First, a report finds that plastics are on track to contribute more to global warming than coal plants by the end of the decade. Then, the head of disaster operations for the Red Cross discusses how his organization is preparing for a world in which we can expect crises to keep getting worse.

For Equilibrium, we are Saul Elbein and Sharon Udasin. Please send tips or comments to Saul at selbein@thehill.com or Sharon at sudasin@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @saul_elbein and @sharonudasin

Let’s get to it.

Plastic will soon trump coal as climate threat: study

The U.S. plastics industry’s contribution to climate change is on course to surpass that of coal-fired power plants by 2030, a new study has found.

Plastics are responsible for generating at least 232 million tons of carbon-based emissions per year — equivalent to the average emissions from 116 average-sized coal-fired facilities, according to the report, published by Bennington College’s Beyond Plastics initiative.

In 2020 alone, the plastic industry’s reported emissions rose by 10 million tons over 2019, the authors found. Meanwhile, construction is currently underway on another 12 facilities, with 15 in planning processes — meaning that altogether, the new sites could emit more than 40 million additional tons of greenhouse gases annually by 2025, according to the study.

“The fossil fuel industry is losing money from its traditional markets of power generation and transportation,” Judith Enck, former Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator and president of Beyond Plastics, said in a statement.

‘Petrochemical buildout’ outweighs other gains: The petrochemical industry, according to Enck, is “building new plastics facilities at a staggering clip so they can dump their petrochemicals into plastics,” she added. “This petrochemical buildout is cancelling out other global efforts to slow climate change.”

Praising the recent closure of 65 percent of the nation’s coal-fired power plants, the authors stressed that the increase in plastics production is outweighing those gains.

“A severe undercounting” of emissions: Although the U.S. plastics industry reported releasing 114 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2020, an analysis by the Maine-based firm Material Research identified “a severe undercounting of plastics’ climate impacts,” a news release from Beyond Plastics said.

That analysis examined data from federal agencies, including the EPA, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Energy, and identified an additional 118 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions generated from other stages of plastics production — the equivalent of another 59 average-sized coal-fired power plants, the report said.

“This report represents the floor, not the ceiling, of the U.S. plastics industry’s climate impact,” Jim Vallette, president of Material Research and the report’s author, said in a statement.

A MESSAGE FROM SOUTHERN COMPANY

At Southern Company, we achieved our interim net zero energy goal ten years early. Today, we continue our work toward a net zero future.

MOVING TOWARD A ‘CIRCULAR ECONOMY’

Environmental benefits of plastics: In response to the report, Joshua Baca, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council (ACC) — which represents major oil and chemical firms — said that the study “fails to recognize the many environmental benefits plastics provide that move society toward a lower carbon future.”

Baca touted plastic’s potential to drive forward “a more circular economy,” or one that focuses on extending the lifecycle of products and reducing waste. Advanced recycling is “gaining momentum,” while plastic packaging requires less material to perform the same function as glass, metal or paper, according to Baca.

“Like other manufacturing processes, plastics manufacturing does emit greenhouse gases,” Baca said, noting that plastics enable the production of lighter vehicles, wind turbine blades and foam insulation.

“Plastics can ultimately result in a net savings of greenhouse gas emissions over their lifecycles compared to the use of many alternatives,” he added.

An opportunity in plant-based plastics: Jessica Bowman, president of the Plant Based Products Council (PBPC), voiced her support for the report, which she said “confirms our perspective that plastics and other products we use every day have significant climate impacts.”

“Plant-based products present an opportunity to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels,” she added.Bowman, who was not involved with the study, stressed that plant-based products “are the epitome of the circular economy,” particularly when made to be compostable or recyclable.

Last words: “We’re not going to get rid of all the products that we need and use every day,” Bowman said. “We certainly could use less products — but for things we need, being able to make them in a better way, making them from renewable inputs, is really critical.”

To read the full story, please click here.

In chaotic world, planning for disaster is everyone’s job

As the country’s climate becomes more unstable and its social fabric more strained, small nonprofit disaster relief organizations are springing up to help communities deal with crises.

“Maybe they pivoted from supporting schools, or distributing supplies” to giving out meals after a hurricane, Trevor Riggen, head of disaster operations at the American Red Cross, told Equilibrium.

Cooperating with these groups is a crucial part of the future of emergency preparedness, Riggen said. “Those agencies bring huge resources to the table, and know the community much better than someone coming from outside.”

Riggen sat down with Equilibrium on Thursday to share his thoughts on preparing for the disasters of the future.

What led to the rise of these organizations? Need. Disaster has become a “chronic condition for a lot of communities,” Riggen said, forcing existing local-level organizations to adapt.

How do big agencies like the Red Cross and FEMA work with these groups? “Presence is key,” Riggen said. “It’s an age-old thing in disaster work: ‘Don’t exchange business cards in the middle of a disaster.’”

For example, relief organizations can leverage lower-scale, more frequent incidents — emergencies rather than disasters — to build a network. Among the 60,000 events the Red Cross finds itself responding to every year are 200 single-family house fires per day, Riggen said.

These give the organization “a starting point” to help gauge individual and communal readiness to inevitable disasters, and to meet local emergency responders and community groups, he added.

A MESSAGE FROM SOUTHERN COMPANY

At Southern Company, we achieved our interim net zero energy goal ten years early. Today, we continue our work toward a net zero future.

IMAGINING TOMORROW’S CRISES TODAY

What else can emergency managers do? “Understand the forecast,” Riggen said. “In decades past, we focused on fighting the next disaster like it would be much like the last one. After Katrina, we focused on averting the next Katrina.”

What’s wrong with that? The future will not be like the past, he said. Meanwhile, Riggen added, the level of vulnerability in communities is “changing every day, and in most communities it’s getting worse.”

With “inequality, food security, healthcare and education — we have to assume we’re starting from a different starting point on the next disaster,” he said.

Then there’s climate change. The 2016 floods in Baton Rouge, which killed 60 people and caused $10 to $15 billion in property damage, “were a watershed for us: since then, large-scale, complex, climate-driven disasters have been happening across the country, and it’s getting faster and more severe,” Riggen said.

There were 22 natural disasters in 2020 that cost over $1 billion — a number that Riggen predicted will be matched this year and passed in future years.

That means that plans for the 2030s and 2040 should assume many communities have to plan for a “much worse” level of local vulnerability and scale of climate disaster — and not simply how to solve current-level problems with current-level resources, Riggen said.

How do you plan for unpredictable disasters, like Texas ice storms or Northwest heat waves? You build the kinds of resilience that work whatever the disaster is, according to Riggen.

“Take a hurricane: the visible impacts are storm surge, flooding, the house that’s blown down,” he said.

But the storm itself, he explained, doesn’t demonstrate a community’s vulnerability to a hurricane. Rather, that vulnerability “starts with asking where are people starting before the disaster happened,” according to Riggen.

“Do they have the resources to evacuate? A preparedness plan? A couple days of food?” he asked. “All those vulnerabilities make us think about that response differently.”

How so? Because to some extent, it doesn’t matter if you can’t live in your house because of a wildfire, hurricane or long-term power failure.

“Food banks, healthcare, emergency housing — we can put that suite of services into almost any disaster scenario, because they’re focused on the person, not how that displacement was caused,” Riggen said.

That approach to planning, he said, “gets you out the disaster-based box,” he added.

Last words: “In thinking about vulnerability, we have to ask: how do we get people who start in a different place to end up with the same result?” Riggen said.

Thursday Throwdowns

Boris Johnson, Bill Gates ‘throwing money’ toward green energy, but provide minimal details

  • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Bill Gates launched a £400 million ($552 million) partnership on Tuesday to boost green energy investment, with half the funds coming from the U.K. government and the other half raised from the private sector, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.
  • But Tom Peck, a political sketch writer for the Independent, ridiculed the partners, writing that they “will definitely save the world — just don’t bother with the details.”
  • The prime minister and the billionaire, according to Peck, may simply be “throwing the money at the problem, generating headlines, but with no real clue what to actually do.”
  • Peck criticized Gates for his “guilty pleasure” of flying around the world in his private jets and Johnson for writing climate denial columns just a decade ago. He also pointed out how the two men seemed confused about the amount they were investing.
  • At the end of their announcement, Johnson declared that the U.K. was “putting in £200m, I think Bill is putting in £200m,” while Gates then corrected him that it was actually “four hundred each,” according to Peck. But then, he wrote, it turned out that “Johnson had been right the first time.”

Document leaks show pushback against U.N. climate recommendations

  • A document leak uncovered by BBC News demonstrated how several countries are working to change a key scientific report on how to combat climate change.
  • Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia have demanded that the U.N. play down the urgency to transition away from fossil fuels — pushing back on previous U.N. recommendations that could keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), the BBC reported.
  • Within the documents are more than 32,000 submissions from governments, companies and other global parties, sent to a U.N. team of scientists that is collecting scientific evidence as to how to tackle climate change, according to the BBC.
  • An adviser to the Saudi oil ministry asked that “phrases like ‘the need for urgent and accelerated mitigation actions at all scales’” be eliminated, while an Australian official rejected the idea that shutting down coal-fired plants is necessary, the BBC reported.

Please visit The Hill’s sustainability section online for the web version of this newsletter and more stories. We’ll see you on Friday.{mosads}

Tags Nancy Pelosi

The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?

respiratory issues
cardiovascular diseases

- Health advisories are sometimes issued, encouraging limiting outdoor activities when air quality is low.

Title:

Content: Skip to Content

The South is in the crosshairs of severe weather again, as the multi-day threat of large hail and tornadoes continues

By Jennifer Gray, CNN meteorologist

The potential for severe weather in the South will continue through the rest of the week, as nearly 50 million people face strong storm threats.

A level 2 out of 3 “slight risk” of severe weather exists for portions of the Gulf Coast, Southeast coast and mid-South, according to the Storm Prediction Center, with cities like Jacksonville, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee, New Orleans, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, included in the risk area.

The main severe weather threats for Thursday evening are damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes.

There’s a broader level 1 out of 5 “marginal risk” of severe weather that includes more than 20 million people from southern Texas to southern Missouri to Florida. This area includes cities like Tampa, Florida, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Birmingham, Alabama.

There’s also a threat for flash flooding across the Gulf Coast from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle. Places like New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, could experience torrential rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.

“Upwards of 3 to 6 inches of rain will be possible in isolated locations,” said the National Weather Service office in New Orleans.

Another round of severe weather Friday targets Dallas

On Friday, severe weather will strike again as another storm system moves across the South. Nearly 50 million people will be under the threat of storms, including giant hail and tornadoes.

Tornado watch vs tornado warning

The storm center has issued a level 3 out of 5 “enhanced risk” of severe weather for portions of East Texas, including the Dallas area.

“We will wrap up the week with another round of showers and storms as a strong system moves across our region on Friday,” said the NWS office in Fort Worth, Texas. “Large hail to potentially very large (2+ inches) hail and damaging winds will be the main threats, with isolated tornadoes possible.”

How hail is formed

This threat comes on the heels of Wednesday night’s severe weather that brought softball-sized hail to portions of Texas.

There’s is a broader risk of severe weather that extends from portions of southern Oklahoma to south Texas. Cities like San Antonio and Austin are included in this level 2 out of 5 “slight risk” of severe weather.

This area will have a significant hail threat as well, some potentially up to 2 inches in diameter, as well as damaging winds.

Additionally, two level 1 out of 5 “marginal risk” areas of severe weather will impact nearly 40 million people across portions of the South Friday. One area is from southern Oklahoma to south Texas, including Houston. The other area covers much of the Southeast and includes cities like Miami, Jacksonville, Florida, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Along with the threat of scattered thunderstorms, very heavy rainfall and flash flooding will be a concern.

“Three day storm rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected with locally higher 3 to 6 inch amounts possible, most of which will help the current drought conditions across NE FL/SE GA, but will likely produce some temporary localized flooding conditions and possible significant river rises in some basins,” said the NWS office in Jacksonville, Florida.

By Saturday, most of the severe weather will be winding down. However, a level 1 out of 5, “marginal risk” for severe weather will hang around along the Gulf Coast.

While there’s still some uncertainty in the forecast, places like New Orleans, Montgomery, Alabama and Tallahassee, Florida, could see damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado.

Get the latest forecast here

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How can people protect their health during Saharan dust storms?

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

**Historical Impacts:**
- Large-scale Saharan dust events have affected air quality through the Gulf Coast, Caribbean, Central America, and as far as the Southeast U.S.

How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

(e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana).

What areas of the Americas have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

- In San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country, these events tend to coincide with periods of drought or thunderstorms, and can impact water resources by altering precipitation patterns.

Title:

Content: Federal recognition to advance conservation and military readiness around Camp Bullis

On the west side of Camp Bullis, at the edge of the Dominion neighborhood, Rustin Tabor pulls his truck to the side of a winding road and walks a few feet into the wooded area that lines it.

Further in, stretched across the dirt, is an entrance to a cave — a karst that leads deep under the forest to the Edwards Aquifer. A grate has been installed on the opening to prevent anyone from climbing down into it.

The cave — called Sharon Springs — is one of 112 on Camp Bullis, a military training reservation in Northwest San Antonio. There are 1,474 karst features throughout Camp Bullis, ranging from small cracks and crevices to slits in the earth, that deposit water into the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer.

“This one doesn’t seem springy right now,” said Tabor, natural resources manager for Joint Base San Antonio. “But if you come here during wet conditions, the water is actually pushing out of the ground.”

Safeguarding such caves is among many conservation efforts at Camp Bullis and its neighboring lands — nearly 1 million acres — that stand to get a huge boost from the area’s recent inclusion in a federal initiative aimed at protecting defense facilities from land uses that are incompatible with their military missions.

Under the initiative, called the Sentinel Landscape Partnership, such areas can seek to be designated as sentinel landscapes, which can provide priority standing to tap certain sources of public and private funding. Camp Bullis received the designation in March, putting it in line for financing opportunities to strengthen military readiness, promote natural resource conservation and increase agricultural productivity.

The Sentinel Landscape Partnership was established in 2013 in by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior. The partnership seeks to connect landowners with government assistance programs to fund land protection and restoration and to implement sustainable land management practices. The aim is that such practices can yield economic and ecological benefits while also protecting defense facilities from development that can hamper military activities, such as training and testing.

The Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape is the first to receive this recognition in Texas, and one of just a few in the United States. Nearly 40 local organizations have joined as partners, including the Hill Country Alliance, the Trinity Glenrose Groundwater Conservation District, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and the Alamo Area Council of Governments. The sentinel landscape will encompass most of Kendall and Comal counties; parts of Bexar, Medina and Bandera counties; and small sections of Kerr and Blanco counties.

The Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, known as REPI, is also a major partner for the sentinel landscape by limiting development and land use conversion that could restrict military training and testing. Three segments in the entire area are designated opportunity spots for REPI.

“Agricultural productivity, conservation and military readiness are all tied together in terms of our relationship to the land,” said Daniel Oppenheimer, land program manager for the Hill Country Alliance. “That’s really what this partnership is about, bringing partners together and starting to understand where and how we can work together to bring new technical and financial resources that align with all the ground needs.”

Stemming lights and floods

Thousands of military personnel train each year on the nearly 28,000 acres at Camp Bullis, part of Joint Base San Antonio. The base has 266 mission partners, and about 2,000 people train there every day.

Most of those are training as military medics. Every enlisted medical person in the the U.S. military trains at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, said Michael Waldrop, the installation support director at Camp Bullis. And they all undergo field components of their training in the natural areas on Camp Bullis.

“In a war zone, you’re usually out in areas like this nature,” Waldrop said. “We want it to be as realistic as possible, so we can’t have any urban elements. They do their urban training elsewhere.”

Development near Camp Bullis can lead to light pollution, loss of agricultural lands and flooding. Outdoor lighting around the northwestern area of San Antonio, from new subdivisions or traffic, can disrupt the natural atmosphere for training. The area south of Camp Bullis is already too heavily illuminated, but the central portion of the camp to the north is still suitable for night training.

But there is concern that lighting is increasing to the north, which is one of the fastest-growing areas in Texas, and not just among the military. Light pollution can also disrupt natural patterns for wildlife, such as bird migration; increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; and obscure the stars.

With this new designation, partners can work with developers to preserve dark night skies for military training, birds, natural resources and public health, Oppenheimer said. One solution is to provide funding for landowners and developers to focus their floodlights downward in their yards instead of reaching areas that don’t need to be illuminated.

Another issue the Sentinel Landscape partnership can tackle is flooding in Camp Bullis, 30 percent of which lies in a flood plain, and the surrounding areas.

Texas Hill Country is known as flash flood alley due to its shallow soils and the steady moisture and humidity that comes off the Gulf of Mexico, making the area vulnerable to massive dry spells and drought followed by catastrophic floods.

At Camp Bullis, flash flooding has washed trucks away, covered roads and fields, and even killed a handful of people who got stuck in the floodwaters.

One solution to this involves speaking with landowners and developers about their own goals and values, Oppenheimer said.

“We’re not coming in and telling people what to do,” he said. “We talk about different tools and strategies to get them aligned with their goals and their interests. They don’t want to lose all their soil. They don’t want to be susceptible to drought and flood. Then based on that, we discuss ways they can retain more soil moisture, reduce erosion, and enhance grass production on their property.”

One flood-prevention technique is building berms to slow down water and enable it to be absorbed into the soil, a practice that is especially helpful during heavy rain. A berm is a raised barrier separating areas, which can be made from brush and tree limbs or a grassy strip. With funding through the sentinel partnership, landowners could receive resources to build such structures or hire contractors to help them prepare the land for flooding.

Around Camp Bullis, berms are around the entire area for flooding, some made with brush and others with dirt and grass. In some cases, the berms serve multiple purposes — as bullet catchers for military range practice along with flood prevention.

“It’s not just us,” Waldrop said. “It’s everyone.”

Water as a joint mission

Tabor’s work at Camp Bullis includes protecting the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone’s caves and karsts, along with closely monitoring wildlife on the property, especially creatures that depend on the property for survival.

Camp Bullis provides habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and aquifer-dependent species, such as the blind salamander, San Marcos salamander and the Comal Springs riffle beetle. Three river systems — the Medina, the San Antonio and the Cibolo — run through Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape’s massive area.

Of the 28,000 acres at Camp Bullis, 4,000 are within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. It is also at the convergence of the Trinity Aquifer and karst features along Cibolo Creek. Two aquifers — the Trinity and Edwards — meet under Camp Bullis and influence each other through the flow of groundwater.

All military personnel and others at Camp Bullis depend on water from the Trinity Aquifer and its relationship with the Edwards Aquifer. Compared to the Edwards, the Trinity recharges slowly and needs more time to refresh.

At the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District, Assistant General Manager Amanda Maloukis said a large part of the Sentinel Landcape Partnership’s mission is protecting, preserving and conserving groundwater resources.

“We can bring in educational pieces to the community, to those ranches and landowners, that really helps enhance their own personal conservation efforts,” she said. “We have rain barrel workshops, which can help people put less stress on the aquifer. We have these high-precipitation events, flooding events, and we’re catching that extra runoff in barrels, which can be used.”

Some of the funding could also be used for further research on groundwater dynamics. By better understanding how the aquifers work together and contribute to the greater ecosystem, organizations and agencies can better protect the water for future generations.

Development around Camp Bullis can bring more pressure to the area in terms of pollution, spills and runoff into both aquifers. Groundwater, Maloukis said, is not just for communities around Camp Bullis, but also for the military within the district. It’s important for everyone involved to keep it clean, and with the new sentinel landscape designation, the hope is they’re heading in the right direction.

“All of this water is tied together in terms of our relationship to the land,” Oppenheimer said. “That’s what this is all about, bringing everyone together to see how all these pieces fit into a really complex puzzle.”

Elena Bruess writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. elena.bruess@express-news.net

What areas of the US have been affected by Saharan dust storms?

- Prepare emergency services for increased respiratory distress calls.

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How does Saharan dust affect immediate weather?

What are the negative health effects of Saharan dust?


**Summary of Extracts: Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and MBS Reforms**

Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) assumed power in 2017, Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious reform program under the banner of Vision 2030.

This initiative aims to diversify the kingdom’s oil-dependent economy, encourage technological innovation, and foster social modernization.

A centerpiece of this vision is the NEOM megacity, including ‘The Line,’ a futuristic city originally planned to stretch 106 miles through the desert.

Recent reports indicate the project has been significantly scaled back (down to 1.5 miles) and delayed, reflecting both the immense scale and the technological challenges involved.

Despite these setbacks, NEOM is still positioned as a driver of economic transformation, designed to attract citizens, global talent, and investments, with projects like the Oxagon port city and luxury resorts such as Treyam underway.

The first hotel and cultural asset in NEOM are slated to open in 2024.

In tandem with these economic shifts, major social reforms have been enacted.

The influence of the Wahhabi religious establishment has been curtailed—exemplified by the restriction of powers held by the religious police.

Women’s rights have seen dramatic advances: women now account for over a third of the workforce, rising by 17.4% in five years, and new policies encourage female leadership and fuller participation in public life.

Vision 2030 also includes strategies to foster an inclusive, equal society while positioning Saudi Arabia as an industrial and technological powerhouse.

The government aims to generate trillions of riyals in private investment, increase high-tech exports sixfold, create tens of thousands of quality jobs, and play a significant role in global supply chains.

MBS’s bold moves—sometimes controversial or met with skepticism—signal an enduring commitment to changing the fabric of Saudi society and its international image.

**Summary of Extracts: Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and MBS Reforms**

Since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) assumed power in 2017, Saudi Arabia has embarked on an ambitious reform program under the banner of Vision 2030.

Title:

Content: RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman highlighted the remarkable achievements made by Saudi Arabia ever since the launch of its Vision 2030 and the government’s relentless efforts to implement structural reforms in the financial and economic sectors. The Crown Prince, who is also chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, said this in a statement issued on the occasion of the approval of the state’s general budget for the fiscal year 2024 by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscored that the Kingdom is witnessing sustainable economic growth in light of the great development capabilities and opportunities that the Kingdom enjoys within the framework of the Vision 2030 to enable it to move forward towards a better future worthy of its status in accordance with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. “This produced a clear and prominent impact on the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) of non-oil sectors.”

The Crown Prince affirmed the commitment made by the government in the budget for the fiscal year 2024 so as to enhance economic growth through the expansion of government spending. “The budget figures announced by King Salman come supportive and enabling many programs and initiatives. These include investments to strengthen infrastructure, raise the quality of services provided to citizens, expatriates and visitors, in addition to developing promising economic sectors, enhancing investment attraction, stimulating industries, and raising the proportion of local content and non-oil Saudi exports,” he said while praising the effective and important role of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the National Development Fund.

The Crown Prince emphasized that work would continue to develop the Kingdom’s public financial performance, by increasing financial capacity and building government reserves, in a way that enhances the capacity of the Kingdom’s economy, maintains sustainable levels of public debt, and enables it to confront any developments or crises that may arise in the future. “The increase in spending is mainly due to the government’s keenness to continue developing the level of public services provided to citizens, expatriates and visitors, as well as to implement many projects and expand spending on sectoral and regional development strategies that would achieve positive structural changes, leading to expanding and diversifying the economic base,” he said.

The Crown Prince stressed the government’s keenness on developing and strengthening partnership with the private sector so as to enable and motivate it to play its major role in achieving economic diversification, as far as to enable the labor market to absorb more of the Saudi workforce, create job opportunities in the labor market and reduce unemployment rates among Saudis. “The total number of Saudis in the labor market this year jumped to 2.3 million, in addition to improving the investment environment to be an attractive environment that contributes to raising the proportion of domestic and foreign investment, developing non-oil exports and improving the non-oil trade balance of payments,” he said.

The Crown Prince emphasized that the journey of economic diversification continues through supporting promising sectors, as the Kingdom works to raise tourism targets to 150 million visitors internally and externally by 2030 in addition to building an effective sports sector through the “Investment and Privatization Project for Sports Clubs,” in order to achieve the goals of the Vision 2030 in the sports sector, as these sectors are witnessing rapid growth and providing diverse opportunities.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated the Kingdom’s determination to develop its industrial sector, as it is one of the most important vital sectors in the Saudi economy, by diversifying the industrial base and value chains through the “National Strategy for Industry'', which focuses on 12 sub-sectors to diversify the industrial economy and raise the industrial domestic product by around three times compared to the year 2020, reaching SR895 billion in 2030 to be a major contributor to the development of non-oil exports. This is in integration with the important role of the PIF as it is the investment arm that contributes and complements the efforts undertaken by the government in diversifying the economy, and the pivotal role of the National Development Fund and its affiliated funds in providing concessional financing to the private sector, he pointed out.

Speaking about the pivotal and leadership role of the Kingdom, the Crown Prince stressed the Kingdom’s role regionally and internationally, and its endeavor to ensure that the countries of the world enjoy security and stability, as they are the main factors for development and prosperity, and its keenness to develop and stabilize supply and value chains in a way that serves the development and economic prosperity of all countries of the world.

The Crown Prince stressed the Kingdom’s determination to continue the development momentum during the coming year and in the medium and long term with boosting the attractiveness of the Kingdom’s economy as a base for local and foreign investments besides diversifying the economy through the development of all economic sectors.

© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy
To lessen reliance on oil.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

This initiative aims to diversify the kingdom’s oil-dependent economy, encourage technological innovation, and foster social modernization.

Title:

Content: Saudi Arabia begs China to help as it 'runs out of money' for huge new £1tn mega-city

Construction has already begun on Neom, the city being built in the desert but money woes have arisen on the project.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - King Abdullah Financial District , KAFD business towers (Image: Getty)

Saudi Arabia is urgently seeking investment from China for its ambitious Neom megacity project, which is at the heart of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 strategy.

The plan aims to diversify the kingdom's economy away from fossil fuels and transform it into a global hub for innovation and technology.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has signed various tech deals with China, further strengthening their economic ties. However, this growing alliance has sparked warnings from the United States, which cautions against the potential consequences if Saudi Arabia draws too close to China.

At a recent exhibition in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia showcased its futuristic vision for Neom, revealing detailed plans for The Line, a vast residential structure intended to house nine million people.

The exhibit also featured designs for a network of underground tunnels for transportation and a desert ski resort in the mountains. This exhibition was part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to secure billions in new investment for Neom, a project whose costs could escalate to over a trillion dollars.

Saudi Arabia showcased its futuristic vision for Neaom in Hong Kong (Image: Getty)

Despite the kingdom's considerable oil wealth, the immense scale and cost of the project pose significant financial challenges. Saudi Arabia hopes that Chinese investment will help bridge this gap.

Recent cooperation between the two nations has focused on technology, with projects involving artificial intelligence and surveillance tech.

Robert Mogielnicki from the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington sees potential opportunities for Chinese investors in sectors like construction, renewable energy, telecommunications, and smart city-related services within Neom.

"Chinese economic actors interested in Neom likely see a longer-term project pipeline with various opportunities to generate profits," Mogielnicki told Business Insider.

However, the deepening Saudi-China relationship is causing concern for the US, Saudi Arabia's main geopolitical ally. The US fears that China could use its involvement in Neom to undercut American influence and gain access to sensitive technologies.

China's sophisticated surveillance technology, which includes AI-enabled facial recognition software, is particularly appealing to Saudi leaders. This technology allows for real-time monitoring of citizens and could be used to support Crown Prince Mohammed's strict control over dissidents and critics.

The partnership between Saudi Arabia and China extends beyond business. In April, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund subsidiary Alat signed a deal with Dahua Technology, a leading Chinese surveillance technology firm sanctioned by the US over national security concerns.

Unlike Western firms, Chinese companies are more willing to share the data they collect, which makes them attractive partners for Gulf states.

Riyadh’s Global Business Hub (Image: Getty)

Neom is being designed as a "smart city," with services regulated by data collected from residents through smartphones and surveillance cameras. Critics warn that this data could be used as part of a mass surveillance program, raising alarms about the implications for privacy and human rights.

The Biden administration is currently seeking to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and is offering the kingdom access to valuable US nuclear technology and enhanced security guarantees. However, the US demands that Saudi Arabia limit its tech cooperation with China as a condition for any agreement.

"The main risk today to Saudi Arabia's tech cooperation with China is the growing China-US tech war. The US is increasingly putting Riyadh under pressure over its cooperation with Chinese companies in the tech sector," Camille Lons, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said.

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How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

To drive development in high-tech
To reduce Saudi Arabia's oil dependence

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy
To lessen reliance on oil.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

A centerpiece of this vision is the NEOM megacity, including ‘The Line,’ a futuristic city originally planned to stretch 106 miles through the desert.

Title:

Content: Yesterday's news that Saudi Arabia's megacity project 'The Line' has been scaled back is the latest sign that the kingdom's audacious state-building enterprise is not going according to plan.

The Line is one of 15 projects announced as part of Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious NEOM undertaking, which is part of the Crown Prince's overall 'Vision 2030' scheme to reshape his oil-dependant country's economy and image.

The linear metropolis was meant to be home to around 1.5 million residents by the end of the decade, with plans to ultimately increase its full capacity to nine million.

The 1,640-foot-tall structure was also meant to stretch across 106 miles of desert, but - according to people familiar to the matter, cited by Bloomberg - it will now only be one-and-a-half miles long (a 98 percent reduction in its planned length) and be home to just 300,000 people by 2030.

The report that it has been scaled back is just the latest sign that Bin Salman's megacity is stalling before even getting off the ground.

Analysts have long expressed scepticism over the project which has touted technology that is yet to be invented. One former worker once described The Line as being 'untethered to reality'.

Yesterday's news that Saudi Arabia 's megacity project 'The Line' has been scaled back was the latest sign that the kingdom's audacious NEOM state-building enterprise is not going according to plan. Pictured: The Line is seen in concept imagery released by Saudi Arabia

As part of the country's audacious and futuristic NEOM project, the linear metropolis was meant to be home to around 1.5 million residents by the end of the decade, with plans to ultimately increase its full capacity to nine million people. However, analysts have long expressed their scepticism - saying the plan features technology yet to even be invented

Pictured: Concept imagery shows an imagined sky garden looking out over the Saudi desert

A concept images shows an artist's rendering of what the interior of The Line would look like, between its two vast 106-mile long landscrapers

When it was first announced, The Line - slated to cost $1.5 trillion (£1.2tn) - was pitched as a new vision for urban design - with computer generated promotional material making it look like something out of a science fiction film.

NEOM as a whole remains one of the largest and most difficult construction projects in history, with the region set to cover a swathe of desert the size of Belgium.

Mohammed bin Salman - or MBS as he is known - sees NEOM as Saudi Arabia's showpiece to transform the country's economy and demonstrate futuristic technology that could transform the way people live their lives around the globe.

However, citing sources close to the project in its report about Saudi Arabia downscaling The Line, Bloomberg noted that the country has not yet approved NEOM's budget for 2024, despite now being well into April.

The publication also said that NEOM's vast expenditure is beginning to concern officials - suggesting Saudi Arabia's immense wealth isn't quite so endless after all.

What's more, some projects outlined in the Vision 2030 are already expected to be delayed past the end-of-the-decade deadline.

Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan said in December that longer is needed to build 'factories' and 'sufficient human resources' for the project.

'The delay or rather the extension of some projects will serve the economy,' he said.

The feasibility of NEOM and The Line has also long been called into question.

Architect and urban planner Etienne Bou-Abdo said of concept images last year: 'the 3D images presented are not classical 3D architecture images', and the designers of the project 'have rather called upon video game designers'.

He stated that the plan includes 'a lot of technology that we don't have today'.

Concept images of The Line released by the kingdom in 2022 showed a vast, structure slicing through the desert near crystal blue ocean waters

The 1,640-foot-tall structure was meant to stretch across 106 miles of desert, but - according to people familiar to the matter, cited by Bloomberg - it will now only be one-and-a-half miles long, a 98 percent reduction in its planned length

A map shows where The Line was set to be built, and how long it would have been. Saudi officials said it would be built in stages, and would eventually cover a 106-mile stretch of desert along the coast of the Red Sea in the western Tabuk province

In a promotional video released by the Kingdom, it was suggested that nine million people could live in The Line (pictured in concept art) at full capacity

The Line's vast construction was set to extend from the heart of another planned Red Sea megacity, a plank of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's bid to diversify the Gulf state's oil-dependent economy - to the ocean

A number of The Line's key features, particularly those related to energy and transport, are based on technologies that do not even exist even in prototype form.

Since its inception, MBS's vision for the project has changed frequently - with workers finding themselves in the difficult position of having to manage the expectations of a man who is known to have imprisoned his own family.

'The concept has morphed so much from its early conception that it's sometimes hard to determine its direction: scaling down, scaling up, or making an aggressive turn sideways,' said Robert Mogielnicki of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, following the presentation in 2022.

There has also been frequent staff turnover, with some former workers describing the vision for NEOM as being 'untethered from reality'.

According to a Bloomberg report in 2022, who interviewed 25 employees and saw 2,700 pages of internal documents, the project has been plagued by setbacks.

Attempts to relocate the indigenous population who have lived at the NEOM site for generations, were reported as being 'turbulent' - with one incident even descending into a gun battle.

Several key staff have quit, blaming a toxic work environment and a culture of massive overspending without seeing results.

They also described how the project had become a favourite for contractors - including architects and Hollywood production designers - all of whom are taking a cut of Saudi Arabia's oil riches.

'I was not alone in realising that it was spurious at best,' Andy Wirth, an American hospitality executive who worked on Neom, told Bloomberg for its 2022 report.

'The complete absence of being tethered to reality, objectively, is what was demonstrated there,' he added at the time.

In its report, the American publication wrote: 'The chaotic trajectory of Neom so far suggests that MBS's urban dream may never be delivered.'

Overall, 15 sites have been announced as part of the NEOM megacity.

With names like Xaynor, Zardun and Siranna - NEOM's destinations are often described in manicured promotional material as 'sanctuaries' or 'oases'.

Computer generated concept images and videos show gleaming structures rising out of the desert, with model-like actors looking on in wonder, or taking part in various activities such as jet skiing or mountain biking.

Salman is hoping to create a desert metropolis known as NEOM. Pictured: NEOM's 'Oxagon' - a futuristic port city - is seen in concept imagery

The Line was the first announced in 2017 - and officially in January 2021 - with MBS delivering a presentation - capturing the attention of both city planners, architects and the general public around the world.

The announcement of 'Oxagon' - a futuristic port city - followed in November.

Concept images of The Line released by the kingdom in 2022 showed a vast structure slicing through the desert near crystal blue ocean waters.

The megacity was to feature two parallel skyscrapers extending across a swathe of desert and mountain terrain, with mirrored facades on the outside.

Saudi officials said it would be built in stages, and would eventually cover a 106-mile stretch of desert along the coast in the western Tabuk province - with its Western tip pointing out over the Red Sea towards Egypt.

In its original design, if built in the UK, The Line would have been able to stretch between London to Birmingham, or even from London into France.

In US-terms, it was longer than the distance between New York and Philadelphia.

However, unlike city sprawls we are accustomed to today, the vast metropolis would have been contained in the two mirrored structures - each rising 500 meters above sea level, taller than the Empire State building.

At just 200 yards wide, The Line was intended to be Saudi Arabia's answer to unchecked and wasteful urban sprawl, layering homes, schools and parks on top of each other in what planners term 'Zero Gravity Urbanism'.

Promotional material says residents will have 'all daily needs' reachable within a five-minute walk, while also having access to other perks like outdoor skiing facilities and 'a high-speed rail with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes'.

For a train to travel 106 miles in 20 minutes, it would need to be able to travel at 318 miles per hour - 16 miles per hour faster than the Beijing to Shanghai speed line, one of the fastest railway lines in the world.

In his presentation, Prince Mohammed sketched out an even more ambitious vision, describing a car-free utopia that would become the planet's most liveable city.

The site would be powered by 100 percent renewable energy and feature 'a year-round temperate micro-climate with natural ventilation', the promotional video said - something that would be a necessity considering temperatures in Saudi Arabia can range from 27 degrees to 43 degrees.

Other flourishes were proposed too, like flying taxis and robot maids, prompting architects and economists to question its feasibility further.

Officials had earlier said The Line's overall population would top one million, but Prince Mohammed said the number would actually hit 1.2million by 2030 (other reports have suggested 1.5 million) before climbing even further by 2045.

In a promotional video released by the Kingdom, it was suggested that nine million people could live in The Line at full capacity.

The eye-popping total is part of a hoped-for nationwide population boom that Prince Mohammed said would be necessary to make Saudi Arabia - the world's biggest crude exporter - an economic powerhouse.

The goal for 2030 is to have 50 million people - half Saudis and half foreigners - living in the kingdom, up from roughly 34 million today.

By 2040 the target is 100 million people, he said in 2022.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announces 'The Line' to be built at NEOM in northwestern Saudi Arabia, January 10, 2021

'That's the main purpose of building NEOM, to raise the capacity of Saudi Arabia, get more citizens and more people in Saudi Arabia. And since we are doing it from nothing, why should we copy normal cities?' Prince Mohammed said at the time.

However, not everyone was convinced at the time.

Writing for the New York Times in 2021, US journalist and author Robert Worth wrote scathingly about the project.

'To watch [MBS's] promotional video is to be immersed in a distinctively Saudi form of arrogance, blending religious triumphalism and royal grandiosity,' he said.

Analysts have also noted that plans for NEOM have often changed course over the years, fuelling doubts about whether The Line would ever become reality.

It was once touted as a regional 'Silicon Valley', a biotech and digital hub spread over 10,000 square miles.

But it was also a vehicle for reimagining urban life on a footprint of just 34 square kilometres, and addressing what Prince Mohammed describes as 'liveability and environmental crises'.

With it being scaled back, it is now unclear whether The Line will still feature its twin skyscrapers seen in the concept images, or if the whole project will have to be reconsidered altogether.

Reports of the scale-back to The Line project coincided with more bad news for Saudi Arabia, after it was announced on Sunday that Saudi Aramco - the state-owned petroleum and natural gas company - saw a 24.7 percent decline in profits in 2023.

In a filing to the Saudi stock market, the oil giant said net income reached 454.7 billion Saudi riyals ($121.25 billion) in 2023 down from 604.01 billion Saudi riyals ($161.07 billion) it reported in 2022.

'The decrease mainly reflects the impact of lower crude oil prices and lower volumes sold, and weakening refining and chemicals margins,' Aramco said.

The huge trench can be seen stretching into the distance as foundations for the incredible megacity are dug out in footage from 2022

Construction workers stand on the edge of a vast trench being dug for The Line megacity

Pictured: Construction workers are seen operating excavators in drone footage captured in 2022 when The Line project began

While Saudi officials will have been left red-faced with the news that the project is being scaled back, it will certainly come as a relief to conservationists who raised the alarm over The Line's environmental impact.

Experts warned last year that the vast mirrored surface would be a 'death trap' for millions of birds migrating between Europe and Africa each year.

As Saudi Arabia touted the finished project's sustainability credentials, researchers identified the construction project itself as one of the 15 most pressing conservation issues to watch in 2024.

And experts have said in a study released in December that a combination of factors mean it poses a huge risk to birds that migrate over Saudi Arabia every year.

These include the mirrored facades, the city's orientation and the intention to have wind turbines along the top of it.

'Birds flying into tall windows is a serious problem, and this is a building that is 500m high going across Saudi Arabia, with windmills on top,' Professor William Sutherland, director of research in Cambridge University's zoology department, told The Times .

'It's also kind of like a mirror so you don't really see it,' Sutherland, who led the study, added. 'So unless they do something about it, there's a serious risk that there could be lots of damage to migratory birds.'

Nightingales, wheatears, larks, sandgrouse and turtle doves are all species of bird that use the migratory route which could be affected.

Other species known to travel that way include the Egyptian vulture and saker falcon, both of which are endangered globally, The Times reported.

Treyam - another NEOM project announced last month - is an 'elevated haven' - a luxury resort, stretching over a desert lagoon, with a nearly half a kilometre long swimming pool on its roof

Looking like something from the future, the complex will stretch across a desert lagoon

NEOM is roughly the size of Belgium and situated on the west coast of Saudi Arabia

The publication said the area The Line is set to occupy is already a bottleneck for an estimated 2.1million birds that travel between Europe and Africa every autumn.

It noted that every year, 988 million birds are killed in collisions with buildings in the US alone, with the risk found to be higher in areas with glass or mirrored buildings.

The news of the scale-back comes just weeks after Saudi Arabia announced its latest wildly ambitious NEOM project: The world's longest sky pool built on the roof of a 250-room resort.

Treyam - announced in March with more computer generated concept images - is being billed as an 'elevated haven' - a luxury complex, stretching over a desert lagoon, with a nearly half-kilometre-long swimming pool on its roof.

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

Recent reports indicate the project has been significantly scaled back (down to 1.5 miles) and delayed, reflecting both the immense scale and the technological challenges involved.

Despite these setbacks, NEOM is still positioned as a driver of economic transformation, designed to attract citizens, global talent, and investments, with projects like the Oxagon port city and luxury resorts such as Treyam underway.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

What are the main goals of the 2016- launched Vision 2030?

To diversify Saudi Arabia's economy
To attract foreign investment

The first hotel and cultural asset in NEOM are slated to open in 2024.

Title:

Content: (Bloomberg) -- Top officials from Saudi Arabia’s mega projects gathered in Riyadh to share progress updates and seek partners to help deliver a key pillar of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to transform the economy.

Executives from The Line, New Murabba and Diriyah Company — complex developments ranging from a futuristic mega city on the Red Sea to an urban development housing a cube-shaped skyscraper set to be the tallest in the Saudi capital — discussed challenges with supply chains, costs and finding skilled workers as they underscored the urgent need for experienced partners to assist in completing projects.

Many touted construction achievements, some that had not yet been shared widely with the public, but made clear they would have to overcome major obstacles if they are to meet deadlines set under the crown prince’s Vision 2030 agenda.

“I think our biggest problem with these projects is time,” said Oussama Kabbani, group chief development offer for Roshn Real Estate Co., one of Saudi Arabia’s largest residential developers that’s backed by the sovereign wealth fund. “Make no mistake we made commitments to His Royal Highness that we will be a showcase of the 2030 Vision. The challenge now is how much we can achieve from our promise.”

Representatives from developments worth $880 billion gathered at Monday’s event, which was hosted by the Middle East business intelligence source known as MEED. They presented to potential investors and contractors at a time when the kingdom is struggling to lure foreign direct investment and has delayed or accelerated some projects based on funding needs and other considerations.

Read More: Neom Hosts Show-and-Tell for Bankers as It Scours for More Cash

The so-called giga projects are playing a pivotal role in Prince Mohammed’s efforts to turn the kingdom into a hub for everything from entertainment to tourism and manufacturing, while easing a dependence on revenue from crude oil.

‘Close The Gap’

More contractors and consultants are seen as the key to ensuring the work goes ahead smoothly, according to comments made repeatedly at the event. There was also a heavy focus on ironing out supply-chain challenges as rising costs for building materials eat into project budgets.

“We are seeing companies coming to Saudi Arabia almost every day – consultants, contractors – from along the supply chain,” said Mohamed Saad, President of Diriyah Company. “I’m hoping that the market will supply what we need and close the gap as much as possible.”

Diriyah has handed out about $14 billion in contracts so far and aims to award as much as $9.3 billion more this year. It also plans to open its first hotel and cultural asset in 2024, Saad said in an interview.

In further signs of plans being adjusted, Saad said Diriyah Square — a key part of the historical Diriyah development — was recently re-launched after conducting more studies on design and customer needs. It’s expected to open in 2027, versus an earlier target for 2024.

Executives from Neom, Red Sea Global Co. and Qiddiya Investment Company also presented to British business delegates at a UK-Saudi summit on Tuesday aimed at deepening investment and trade between the countries.

Qiddiya, an entertainment hub being built in the capital city of Riyadh, said it plans to open its first two theme parks — Six Flags Qiddiya City and Aquarabia — in 2025.

Read More: ‘Dragon Ball’ Goes to the Desert With Saudi Arabian Theme Park

(Updates with Qiddiya comments)

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

How has Saudi Arabia diversified its economy under Vision 2030?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

In tandem with these economic shifts, major social reforms have been enacted.

How has Vision 2030 affected women's rights and workforce participation?

What are some of the key goals of Vision 2030 for society and economy?

allow recreational activities; Saudi women benefit from relaxed restrictions

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

The influence of the Wahhabi religious establishment has been curtailed—exemplified by the restriction of powers held by the religious police.

How has the role of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice changed under Muhammad bin Salman?

No longer acts as the de facto religious police.

Has been reduced to morality awareness campaigns and COVID-19 efforts.

What has MBS done since becoming Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia?

What internal changes has MBS implemented in Saudi Arabia?

Suppressed dissent--especially Islamist opposition

Women’s rights have seen dramatic advances: women now account for over a third of the workforce, rising by 17.4% in five years, and new policies encourage female leadership and fuller participation in public life.

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Content: Saudi National Day: kingdom's women celebrate drive towards equal opportunity

Female executives cite "progressive leadership" for their achievements

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As they prepare for the 92nd Saudi National Day on Friday, Saudi women are celebrating the nation's progress and their rise to leadership positions across different sectors.

Saudi women have always coveted more visible and pertinent roles in society, and the kingdom's Vision 2030 is the catalyst that has made them possible.

Saudi Arabia had developed a diversified economy thanks to its “progressive leadership”, Dr Manar Al Moneef, Chief Investment Officer at the kingdom's $500 billion city of the future Neom, told The National.

“We are proud of the incredible accomplishments that have ignited the pride of our people all over the kingdom and we continue to strive for greatness,” she says.

“Neom will continue to be a powerful enabler” of the Saudi Vision 2030, she said.

Dr Manar believes Saudi Arabia is committed to women’s empowerment and has enabled women to obtain the “highest levels” of education and encouraged them to participate in various aspects of “economic, political, and social life”.

“As part of Vision 2030, I am grateful for the major reforms and the continuation of the leadership’s efforts to empower women to occupy leadership positions in various sectors.”

She said Neom’s approach is no different, “we are committed” to creating a working environment that supports, develops, and promotes equality and diversity”.

Vision 2030 aims to boost female participation in the workforce to 30 per cent by 2030.

Saudi women make up more than a third of the country's workforce, statistics released in March this year by the General Authority for Statistics show, a 17.4 per cent increase from five years ago.

Also, the female unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in 20 years in the first quarter of 2022.

Many female leaders attribute this achievement to the kingdom's ambitious programme to completely reshape its economy into one that is self-sufficient, progressive and diversified.

Saudi women have always demonstrated resolve and “Vision 2030 catalysed this determination into action”, said Dr May Taibah, board member and corporate financial controller at the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation.

She has been working in social enterprise for more than a decade, most recently with Bab Rizq Jameel Services and Nafisa Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts.

Vision 2030 caters to the diverse needs of Saudi Arabia’s citizens, as it enables every member of society, “especially women,” to be veritable contributors to the country’s socio-economic growth, she said.

“This gives me a front-row seat to witness first-hand the impact of collaboration between the public, private, and governmental sectors in fuelling human capability,” she told The National. “It is truly inspirational what can be achieved through the right support framework.”

In the first quarter of 2022, the percentage of women in middle management and senior positions rose from 28.6 per cent compared with 39 per cent in first quarter of 2017, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said.

However, the exponential value added by the growth of the female workforce in the kingdom was not limited to statistics and numbers, said Deema Al Bashrawi, Head of Operations at Tanmiah, a manufacturer and distributor of food and agricultural products.

She attributed her professional success to a culmination of factors including the strength of the kingdom’s educational framework, which enabled her to earn a degree in economics, and the support of her family.

She added that “Tanmiah continues to support my sustained growth” since she joined in 2012 as a manager.

“Today, I look forward to continuing to serve my country, customers, partners, and investors as we continue to support the achievement of Saudi Arabia’s goals towards improving food security, reducing waste, and achieving self-sufficiency,” Ms Al Bashrawi said.

Dr Taibah believes that an entrepreneurial mindset is vital to prosperity and extends beyond entrepreneurship.

“The value extends beyond that, to the personal stories of lives, businesses and industries transformed through supportive socio-economic empowerment across the entire framework,” she told The National.

The World Bank’s Women, Business and Law report for 2020 and 2021 found that Saudi Arabia was among the top countries when it came to implementing reforms and rights related to women.

“Vision 2030 was developed to extend equal support, whether a person is a craft worker, start-up CEO or employee,” Dr Tabiah said.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development introduced policies that promote inclusivity, and diversity in the labour market.

These were “to enhance the positive image of women in the workplace, and to create a supportive and inclusive environment to facilitate women’s entry into the labour market”, a ministry representative said earlier this year.

“Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been a champion for women's progress and has helped empower women in the labour market by giving us ease of running businesses and authority which does not require a man,” said Ghalia Abdul, who runs a retail store in Jeddah.

Women's right to drive, travel and run their own businesses had helped her to hire more female workers in the last four years, Ms Abdul said.

The Arab Institute for Women’s Empowerment has said that investing in targeted training for Saudi women would have a return on investment of $400 billion by 2030.

“Most young Saudis have an entrepreneurial spirit and the new changes have helped people like me not just run my own business, but also contribute to the economy and create jobs for women,” Ms Abdul added.

Updated: September 22, 2022, 5:15 AM
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Content: JEDDAH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman launched on Tuesday the National Strategy for Industry to realize the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

The strategy focuses on 12 sub-sectors to diversify the Kingdom’s industrial economy while identifying more than 800 investment opportunities worth SR1 trillion.

“Through this strategy and in partnership with the private sector, Saudi Arabia will become a leading industrial power that contributes to securing global supply chains, and exporting high-tech products to the world,” the Crown Prince, who is also chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, said while unveiling the new strategy.

“We have all the possibilities to reach a competitive and sustainable industrial economy, thanks to the ambitious young talents; distinguished geographical location; rich natural resources, and leading national industrial companies,” he said.

The strategy aims to accomplish an industrial economy that attracts investments, which contributes to achieving economic diversification, and developing the domestic product and non-oil exports, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

The National Strategy for Industry focuses on 12 sub-sectors to diversify the Kingdom’s industrial economy while identifying more than 800 investment opportunities worth SR1 trillion to constitute a new chapter of sustainable growth for the sector in order to achieve ambitious economic returns for the Kingdom by 2030. These returns include doubling the industrial domestic product by three times and doubling the value of industrial exports to reach SR557 billion.

The strategy is also working to bring the total value of additional investments in the sector to SR1.3 trillion, and to increase exports of advanced technology products by about six times, in addition to creating tens of thousands of quality jobs of high value.

The industrial sector is one of the pillars of Saudi Vision 2030, and it receives great attention from wise leadership. The National Industrial Development and Logistics Program was launched and an independent ministry was established to take care of the sector. In addition to this, a number of programs were introduced and several entities were established.

All these have resulted in doubling the number of industrial establishments, which did not exceed 7,206 factories within 42 years. Their number jumped by more than 50 percent after the launch of Vision 2030, reaching 10,640 industrial facilities in 2022. The strategy will drive growth in the sector, bringing the number of factories to about 36,000 factories by 2035.

Through the strategy, Saudi Arabia aspires to empower the private sector, as well as to increase the flexibility and competitiveness of the industrial sector, which guarantees continuity of access to important commodities for the welfare of citizens and achieve global leadership in a group of selected commodities, by investing in promising new technologies.

To achieve these ambitious national goals, a governance model for the industrial sector was developed through the formation of the Supreme Committee for Industry, headed by the Crown Prince, to supervise the development of the sector, in addition to the formation of the Industrial Council with the participation of the private sector in order to ensure the participation of industrial investors in decision-making and policy development.

The Kingdom’s industrial sector is based on solid industrial foundations and successes built over 50 years, as it contributed to adding more than SR340 billion to the gross domestic product, and provided many quality jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in various industrial fields.

The Kingdom also enjoys the presence of leading national industrial companies, which have contributed to placing the Saudi industry in the ranks of advanced industries regionally and globally, as the Kingdom is today the fourth largest manufacturer of petrochemical products in the world, while its industrial outputs contribute to supplying global supply and manufacturing chains, which are involved in the production of many of industries.

The launch of the strategy is in line with global trends in the sector, such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Kingdom’s objectives and the competitive advantages represented by its geographical location, an abundance of natural resources and energy sources, human capabilities, purchasing power, and stable monetary policies, it was pointed out.

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