The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a key Middle Eastern country investing in renewable energy, as evidenced by its ratification of the Paris Treaty and the launch of the "Net Zero by 2050 Initiative" with a $163 billion investment budget.

The Middle East Green initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote environmental sustainability by planting 10 million trees and reaching net zero carbon emissions in the kingdom's territory by 2060.

"The Middle East Green Initiative was launched by a kingdom in the region, which recently organized a summit attended by international dignitaries and pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2060."

Climate change is having significant impacts in the Middle East, including drought, sea-level rise, and rising summer temperatures, which are exacerbating the region's existing water poverty and threatening coastal cities and human survival.

The Middle East is promoting green energy as a response to climate change and the need to transition from oil, with a focus on increasing efforts to survive and adapt to the changing climate.

The Middle East's energy landscape is undergoing changes driven by global consumption trends, government preparations for a post-oil world, and external factors like China's energy security priorities.

"Saudi Arabia aims to achieve 50% of renewable energy by 2030."

The UAE aims to increase its share of clean energy to 50% by 2050.

"The UAE has launched the 'Net Zero by 2050 Initiative' with a $163 billion investment budget, indicating a significant investment in renewable energy projects, particularly in solar energy, as part of its energy transition strategy."

The UAE is expected to lead the Middle East region in renewables capacity growth, driven by its ambitious clean energy targets and significant investments in solar energy projects.

"Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program aims to develop renewable energy sectors by increasing the proportion of renewable energy to 50% by 2030."

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a key Middle Eastern country investing in renewable energy, as evidenced by its ratification of the Paris Treaty and the launch of the "Net Zero by 2050 Initiative" with a $163 billion investment budget.

Title:

Content: The Guardian: The Middle East is facing a ‘ resurrection ’
And Mecca may not be livable by the end of the century.
Friday 29 October 2021 05: 27 pm / Jerusalem time + 2GMT
London / Sama /
Titled “Resurrection Soon: A Reluctant Middle East Forced to Awareness of the Climate Crisis, ” The Guardian ’ s diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour said that Hurricane Shaheen hit Oman some time ago, the first tropical cyclone to reach this point west into the Gulf.
In Basra, southern Iraq, power has been cut off frequently as a result of this summer ’ s temperature of 50 degrees Celsius, forcing residents to move in their cars to get cold.
Kuwait broke the record for the hottest day of 2016 of 53.6 degrees Celsius, and this summer temperatures were very high, with floods in Jeddah and more recently in Mecca at a time when temperatures in Saudi Arabia have increased by 2 percent and the maximum temperature of 2.5 percent since the 1980s.
Qatar is the world ’ s highest emitting country and the world ’ s largest producer of liquefied gas (LNG), and public spaces are equipped with air conditioners.
In Tehran, pollution annually kills 4,000 people a year, and in Khuzestan province, citizens have blocked streets and burned tires due to drought as a result of mismanagement, U.S. sanctions and a deadly atmosphere.
In the United Arab Emirates, the climate crisis is estimated to cost $6 billion a year, the highest in terms of health costs.
The salinity of the Gulf increased with the proliferation of desalination plants by 20%, which affected marine life and biodiversity.
Conditions are expected to worsen at a time of rising temperatures, humidity and sea levels.
Warming rates in the Middle East are twice as high as in the world.
By the end of the century, if the dangerous predictions are correct, Mecca may not be fit for life, making the Hajj season dangerous if not catastrophic.
Large swaths of the Middle East have come to resemble the Afar region of Ethiopia, a vast area without human settlement that pushes towards the Red Sea.
The glittering cities of the Gulf may face the dilemma of rising water levels themselves.
We do not speak of the day of judgment, but of the day of judgment.
Jim Crane, an energy researcher at Rice University in Houston, said: “This is really a difficult topic because the interests of the ruling elites are at odds with the interests of the citizens.
The ruling elite depends on oil resources for the survival of their regimes.
They want to keep the oil trade in order to keep them in power.
Their system is based on oil leasing, but the population ’ s ultimate interests lie in a sustainable climate. ”
Zeina Khalil Haj, founder of Greenpeace in the Middle East, believes that the region is suffering from double pressure: “With increasing demands for energy change, a region that relies on fossil energy, oil and carbon for its economic survival, but cannot continue this dependency.
There will be no oil market but with climate change, they are required to increase efforts to survive.
The extreme climate is changing people ’ s lives on a daily basis and there is no choice but to go green. ”
The West ’ s persistent appetite for fossil energy has led the region to build car-based cities, shiny skyscrapers filled with air conditioners and shopping malls.
It must look for ways to avoid self-destruction, and it must be, according to Thomas Friedman, the Prometheus moment for the Middle East and the search for creative and creative ways.
In fact, the region has been reminded for a decade that it has to make the transition from oil.
Although the moment when oil demand will reach its highest point remains controversial, and depends on a number of assumptions about regulation, technology and customer behavior, the point I mentioned is 2040, after which demand will decline.
But the International Energy Organization ’ s “Net Zero ” report sees the peak as 2050 and by comparison suggests a reduction in oil demand from 88 million barrels per day in 2020 to 72 million barrels per day by 2030, and 24 million barrels per day in 2050, a 75% decline between 2020-2050.
The report argues that the Gulf has three factors underpinning the transformation: capital, sun, and vast, empty spaces.
Until recently, the Gulf states, including Iran, did not feel the desire to shift away from fossil energy to this extent.
When asked, Saudi Oil Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said it was “a sequel to La La Land, ” meaning that the report and its writers do not know what is happening.
"If I wanted to worry about the IEA's expectations, I would be on Prozac all the time," he said.
Qatar ’ s Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said reducing oil and gas production levels would affect the supply process and laughed at “the enthusiasm surrounding the transition. ”
The Organization of Petroleum Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) forecasts that the process of oil demand will increase significantly through 2045 and the share of oil in global energy demand will fall from 30% to 28%, which is not a green revolution.
Gulf states still rely on gas and oil exports, accounting for 70 percent of goods exported from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Oil resources account for more than 70% of the total resources of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
In Vision 2030, published by Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, he promised to turn the country into an important industrial hub.
World Bank figures show that Saudi Arabia relies on 75% of its oil resources for its budget.
Aramco, which is making its mark on global carbon emissions, is not diversifying at the same pace as Shell or BP.
Instead, it announced it would increase crude oil production capacity from 12 million barrels per day to 13 million barrels per day by 2027.
Haj believes that the shift away from oil may require a psychological shift from the consumer mentality, “The Gulf has not yet reached this kind of discussion.
If you see the way of life in the UAE and Qatar, it is based on inexhaustible consumption, and I fear we are still a long way from that in terms of politics and readiness. ”
Iran is the largest country in the world in terms of carbon emissions by population, followed by the UAE in second place and Saudi Arabia in 13th place.
Of course, Gulf rulers at events such as the Glasgow climate conference can defend themselves by saying that their region is not the primary source of carbon emissions, and historically, collectively, accounts for 4.7% less than carbon emissions and pollution from the United States, Europe and China.
The Middle East exports oil, but pollution is the responsibility of those who import it.
But the region ’ s leaders have come to grips with the problem not because of Western pressure but in response to citizens ’ demands, the goose has realized that the eggs, the oil, are no longer golden but brown.
The UAE is the first country to say it has moved to ratify the Paris Treaty and is the least dependent Gulf state on oil for its government resources.
Last week, she announced the “Net Zero by 2050 Initiative ” with an initial investment budget of $163 billion and appointed the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Maryam Al Muhairi.
The announcement came after the government ordered awareness sessions in all its ministries since June for 80 days.
It was the first country in the Gulf to adopt a net zero domestic consumption policy.
The plan is still in its infancy and some of its features are unclear, but the direction is clear.
It promised to rely on renewable and nuclear energy by 50% to generate electricity by 2050.
Abu Dhabi ’ s national oil company said it would get 100 percent of its electricity from the nuclear reactor and solar power.
The Mohammed bin Maktoum Solar Park will be the largest in the world with a capacity of 5,000 megawatts.
Gulf states are competing with each other, with news reports that Qatar has appointed a climate minister, Bahrain aiming for net zero carbon by 2050 and Kuwait announcing a plan to reduce carbon emissions.
Saudi Arabia does not like to be late.
It announced that it would increase the proportion of renewable energy from 0.3% to 50% by 2030.
The plan is to plant 10 million trees in the coming decades.
Over the weekend, the kingdom organized a summit of the Green Middle East Initiative, attended by John Kerry and Britain ’ s Prince Charles.
It promised to reach net zero carbon emissions in its territory by 2060.
The main reason the Gulf states have been slow to shift away from oil and its commodities is that they have made them rich and helped them anesthetize their citizens.
Their loyalty was bought through a series of subsidies for water, electricity, fuel and tax breaks.
These dynamics were different from Iraq, Lebanon and to a lesser extent Iran, but the situation is changing with the emergence of local environmental groups.

The Middle East Green initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote environmental sustainability by planting 10 million trees and reaching net zero carbon emissions in the kingdom's territory by 2060.

"The Middle East Green Initiative was launched by a kingdom in the region, which recently organized a summit attended by international dignitaries and pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2060."

Climate change is having significant impacts in the Middle East, including drought, sea-level rise, and rising summer temperatures, which are exacerbating the region's existing water poverty and threatening coastal cities and human survival.

Title:

Content: The Middle East is on the cusp of an energy revolution.
In the midst of unprecedented climate change
The next morning – follow up:
The world is currently facing extreme weather extremes, from flash floods to heavy rainfall to record-high temperatures and wildfires, all pointing to a single source: climate change driven by carbon emissions in the air.
The Middle East is particularly affected by this situation as it produces and consumes a very large amount of carbon-emitting fossil fuels that in turn lead to climate change.
A UN report by a UN scientific panel described climate change as unprecedented, saying it was definitely people who were responsible for climate change.
He called for drastic cuts in emissions in order to keep global temperature below the limits set out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “The scope of recent changes in aspects of the climate system as a whole and the current state of many aspects of the climate system are unprecedented for centuries or several millennia. ”
"Based on the available evidence, they have high confidence that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were higher in 2019 than at any point in at least two million years, and that since 1970, global surface temperature has risen faster than any other 50 years in at least the last two millennia."
234 experts from 66 countries wrote the report, the most comprehensive since 2013.
Many of the effects of climate change can no longer be avoided today.
John Alterman, vice president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, director of the Middle East Program and director of the Brzezinski Chair for Global and Strategic Security, says no region in the world is more immersed in the consequences of global climate change than the Middle East.
The region accounts for 30% of global oil production and oil revenues are the locomotive of government revenues in the region, either because countries produce oil or because countries produce a workforce working in oil-exporting countries and send money home.
Because of oil revenues, Middle Eastern governments can and do employ large numbers of their own population.
As the world moves away from oil as a source of energy, the economies of the Middle East will change profoundly.
John Alterman adds in a report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies that at the same time the Middle East is vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.
The region is already extremely water-poor, with the Middle East having 9 of the 10 most water-poor countries.
Drought pushes farmers away from their land and the region ’ s many coastal cities are threatened by sea-level rise, and rising summer temperatures increasingly combine with humidity to endanger human survival.
The Middle East is thus rooted on both sides of the issue of climate change.
As global consumption patterns change, the Middle East will change profoundly.
With climate change, the Middle East will also change profoundly.
He adds that developing countries' energy consumption rises sharply as incomes increase and are likely to rely on existing equipment and technology for longer.
While the rich can spend thousands on green products, for much of the world ’ s population oil and gas will remain affordable fuel.
But Middle Eastern governments may not be willing to cut their oil production.
A sustained drop in global consumption, however small, would put pressure on Gulf states to increase output in a bid to drive higher-cost producers out of the market and ensure they are not left with less valuable barrels in the ground when consumption falls further.
Governments across the Middle East have been preparing for a post-oil world for years but are still far from their goals, says John Alterman.
In the Gulf countries, years will be needed to move from the reality of high-productivity, low-wage workers supporting the efforts of low-productivity, high-wage workers.
The energy transition will be important for more than just the Middle East.
Energy security is the driver of much of China ’ s recent investment in the region.
If China decides that its energy security derives from mines in Africa and not from wells in the Middle East, we should expect a shift in Chinese interest and capital.
If there is a more permanent role for oil and gas in the global energy picture, there could be more competition between the United States and China for regional influence.
Finally, Western countries could move away from hydrocarbons for environmental reasons while China and the developing world remain devoted to them for economic reasons.
This could almost be reflected in America abandoning its future role in the Middle East, with China capturing much of this inaction.
Related Articles

The Middle East is promoting green energy as a response to climate change and the need to transition from oil, with a focus on increasing efforts to survive and adapt to the changing climate.

The Middle East's energy landscape is undergoing changes driven by global consumption trends, government preparations for a post-oil world, and external factors like China's energy security priorities.

"Saudi Arabia aims to achieve 50% of renewable energy by 2030."

The UAE aims to increase its share of clean energy to 50% by 2050.

Title:

Content: Fossil fuels, which have powered the industrial growth and development of civilisations for centuries, are facing a looming deadline of depletion. Moreover, they have caused severe environmental and social problems, such as climate change, conflicts, and pollution. The need for alternative and sustainable energy sources is clear and urgent. However, the transition to a post-fossil fuel era is not easy or straightforward. It requires innovation, investment, cooperation, and vision.

This article explores the challenges and opportunities of global energy transformation, focusing on the dual nature of fossil fuels, the countdown to their exhaustion, and the promise of renewable energy sources. It also highlights the progress and potential of some countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which is one of the most dependent regions on fossil fuels in the world.

Fossil Fuels: A Double-Edged Sword

Fossil fuels, comprising oil, coal, and natural gas, are ancient energy sources that have been central to the development of various industries and sectors. They have enhanced transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and electricity generation. They have catalysed global trade, commerce, and innovation, elevating the quality of life for millions.

However, this ascent has been coupled with profound challenges. Fossil fuels have been a source of geopolitical strife, epitomised by wars and conflicts over their control and distribution. They have also exacerbated environmental issues, such as greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and climate change. Incidents like oil spills, gas leaks, and fracking have inflicted severe damage on ecosystems and public health.

The Countdown to Depletion

The finite and non-renewable nature of fossil fuels leaves humanity facing a daunting deadline. Predicting the exact exhaustion of these resources is a complex endeavour, influenced by reserves, consumption rates, technological advancements, and price fluctuations. Nonetheless, projections based on current data paint a concerning picture.

According to Octopus Energy, the year 2060 may mark the twilight of fossil fuels, based on current consumption and reserve estimates. In 2020, global oil production reached 91.7 million barrels per day (b/d), with key players like the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia at the forefront. Simultaneously, natural gas production stood at 3.94 trillion cubic meters (bcm). Although the Covid-19 pandemic temporarily curtailed production, a resurgence is anticipated. In contrast, natural gas consumption steadily rises by over 3% each year.

Should additional oil reserves remain elusive, known deposits could be depleted by 2052. The stark reality is that demand for oil has surged, nearly doubling the average annual rate observed over the preceding decade in 2018.

Toward a Sustainable Energy Paradigm

The global imperative for alternative energy sources is clear. Sustainable options, even if not entirely devoid of environmental impact, have become a linchpin of energy discussions. The quest for sustainability is no longer optional; it is fundamental to securing a prosperous future.

Embracing alternative and sustainable energy solutions is our paramount responsibility. The adverse consequences of persisting with fossil fuels are increasingly undeniable. Furthermore, incidents such as oil spills, gas leaks, and fracking have grievously scarred ecosystems and human health.

The geopolitical maelstrom surrounding fossil fuels is a testament to their strategic importance. By reducing our dependence on these finite resources, we can contribute to global stability and peace.

The Promise of Sustainable Energy

Investing in sustainable energy is not merely an ecological commitment; it is a strategic move to safeguard long-term energy security. Renewable sources like solar and wind power do not suffer the same spectre of depletion as fossil fuels, offering a reliable and sustainable energy future. Moreover, technology’s relentless march is enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of these alternatives, ensuring a seamless transition.

In this era of unprecedented global challenges, the unsustainable trajectory of fossil fuels is no longer tenable. Transitioning to renewable and sustainable energy sources is both a moral imperative and an economic necessity. As we confront the relentless march of climate change, endeavouring to secure long-term energy stability and foster global peace, embracing this transformation is our only viable path toward a sustainable and prosperous future. It is a journey we must embark upon with unwavering determination and foresight.

The MENA Region: The abundance of wisdom

The MENA region stands as an interesting case study for global energy transformation. The region is one of the most dependent regions on fossil fuels in the world. According to the World Bank, the region accounted for 36% of the global oil production and 20% of the global gas production in 2018. However, the region also faces many challenges and risks related to its reliance on fossil fuels, such as price volatility, environmental degradation, social unrest, and geopolitical conflicts.

Therefore, some countries in the region have started to prepare for the transition to a post-fossil fuel era by diversifying their economies, investing in renewable energy sources, and promoting innovation and sustainability. According to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the MENA region has a huge potential for renewable energy development, especially solar and wind power. The report estimates that the region could generate more than 60% of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Some of the countries that have made significant progress in this field are:

• UAE: The UAE has been a leader in innovation and sustainability in the region, with a vision of becoming a global hub for green economy and clean energy. The UAE has set a target of increasing its share of clean energy to 50% by 2050. The UAE has invested in various renewable energy projects, such as the Shams 1 solar thermal plant, which is one of the largest of its kind in the world, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is planned to be the largest single-site solar park in the world by 2030. The UAE is also home to Masdar City, which is a planned city that aims to be one of the most sustainable cities in the world. Also, UAE is one of the 10 largest oil producing countries with a proven reserves, according to BP statistical reviews, of 100 billion barrels.

• Morocco: Morocco has been a pioneer in renewable energy development in the region, with a target of achieving 52% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Morocco has invested heavily in solar power projects, such as the Noor Ouarzazate complex, which is the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world. Morocco also has a strong wind power sector, with a capacity of over 1.2 gigawatts (GW) as of 2019.

• Egypt: Egypt has also been pursuing an ambitious renewable energy strategy, with a goal of reaching 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035. Egypt has a large potential for solar and wind power, especially in the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea coast. Egypt has launched several large-scale projects, such as the Benban Solar Park, which is expected to be the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the world when completed, and the Zafarana Wind Farm, which is one of the largest wind farms in Africa.

These are some examples of countries in the MENA region that are prepared for after fossil fuels era. However, there are still many challenges and barriers that need to be overcome, such as policy and regulatory frameworks, financing and investment mechanisms, public awareness and participation, and regional cooperation and integration.

The world is at a crossroads in its energy choices. Fossil fuels have been instrumental in driving industrial growth and development, but they have also caused severe environmental problems. Their finite nature also poses a threat to long-term energy security. The need for alternative and sustainable energy sources is clear and urgent.

Renewable energy sources offer a promising solution to this challenge. They are abundant, reliable, and sustainable. They can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, and foster global peace. They can also create new opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and social welfare.

— Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi is a former UAE minister of Infrastructure Development and for Climate Change and Environment

"The UAE has launched the 'Net Zero by 2050 Initiative' with a $163 billion investment budget, indicating a significant investment in renewable energy projects, particularly in solar energy, as part of its energy transition strategy."

The UAE is expected to lead the Middle East region in renewables capacity growth, driven by its ambitious clean energy targets and significant investments in solar energy projects.

"Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program aims to develop renewable energy sectors by increasing the proportion of renewable energy to 50% by 2030."