“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues unleash its enormous economic, geographical and cultural potential, and its pioneering efforts in sustainability and environmental conservation,”
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
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Jamaican Cherry (Muntingia calabura) for the Red Sea Region of Saudi Arabia
and
Entrepreneurship in Saudi
Retail Reinvented: How Digital Transformation,
and Data Strategy Are Redefining the Future of
Agrivoltaics: A Triple-Win Framework for Saudi Food, Energy, and Water Security
Greening the Desert: Assessing the Green Riyadh Project's Impact on Urban Heat Mitigation
Beyond the Bag: How LuLu is Transforming Retail with Eco-Friendly Practices
Succession in the Sustainability Era: Building Future-Ready Leaders through Knowledge Transfer and Green Skills
of AI
focused on Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience in Saudi Arabia
Measles and Rubella Vaccination: A Pillar for Public Health and Social Sustainability in Saudi Arabia
Colour the Desert Sustainable
Green Hydrogen: Fuel of the Future and Saudi Arabia’s Opportunity to Lead the Green Revolution
Transforming Mina: Pioneering Green Infrastructure for Enhanced Pilgrim Comfort and Saudi Arabia's Sustainable Hajj Future
Cooling Techniques for Triple-Junction Solar Cells
Sustainable Behaviour:The Missing Driver of Environmental Compliance in Construction
Editorial Opening – Saudi Sustainability Magazine, Issue 7
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transition toward a diversified, low-carbon economy, sustainability is no longer a parallel conversation — it has become the central narrative guiding investment, innovation, and growth
In this seventh issue of the Saudi Sustainability Magazine, we invite readers to explore how climateconscious strategies are reshaping industries, unlocking new opportunities, and redefining value creation across the Kingdom
Our cover story, “Unraveling the World of Carbon Credits for Saudi Investors,” dives deep into one of the most dynamic and debated mechanisms in the global climate economy It decodes how carbon markets function, what opportunities exist for Saudi investors, and how local policies from the Saudi Green Initiative to the emerging Voluntary Carbon Market are positioning the Kingdom as a regional hub for climate finance.
Beyond the headline feature, this issue brings together diverse perspectives from across sectors:
Business & Finance: How ESG-driven investing and disclosure standards are influencing corporate performance and access to capital.
Agriculture: The rise of climate-smart farming and its role in ensuring food security and carbon sequestration
Health & Well-being: Exploring the intersection of environmental resilience, urban design, and human health in Saudi cities.
Technology & Innovation: The role of digitalization, AI, and data transparency in accelerating decarbonization efforts
Each article reflects our growing commitment to bridging sustainability knowledge with actionable insights turning ambition into measurable progress
As Saudi Arabia advances toward its Net Zero 2060 target, it is becoming clear that sustainability is not just a moral imperative — it is an economic one The future belongs to those who can transform environmental challenges into engines of opportunity
At SPSA, we remain committed to empowering professionals, building capacity, and advancing knowledge that bridges global best practice with local context Together, we are not only shaping the narrative we are shaping the future of sustainable leadership in the Kingdom
Let us continue turning ambition into action, and carbon into capital for a Saudi Arabia that thrives sustainably today and leads the world tomorrow
We hope this issue empowers investors, policymakers, and professionals alike to see sustainability not as a cost, but as capital and carbon not as a liability, but as a lever for innovation and growth
Thank you for joining us on this important journey.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mohammed S. Al-Surf SPSA Founder & President
WhySPSA wasfounded?
Saudi Arabia faces the problem of a lack of professionalism and consistency in the emerging field of sustainability in the country. Currently, there are no standardized certifications, professional designations, or credentials for sustainability professionals in the country This creates issues around consistency in job titles, salaries, and the scope of work for those in sustainability roles. It also limits career progression and credibility for sustainability professionals
To address this problem, SPSA aims to establish a professional membership program with designations and credentials in sustainability
This program will define standard job titles, salary bands, and competency requirements for different roles in the sustainability field. It will provide pathways for career progression through continuous professional development. The program will also establish SPSA as a thought leader in the space and build credibility for the sustainability profession in Saudi Arabia
Lackof professional standards
the lack of professional standards in sustainability creates problems for both employers and professionals in Saudi Arabia. By developing a robust professional membership program, SPSA can help define and elevate the sustainability profession, enabling its members to have successful and impactful careers
Key problems facing sustainability professionals and organizations in Saudi Arabia are:
A lack of awareness about sustainability best practices which limits adoption of sustainability initiatives
The absence of a professional membership organization to support, connect and set standards
Difficulty for organizations in determining and accessing sustainability expertise
Untapped opportunities for global partnerships and collaboration on sustainability issues
Prosperity
Peace
Partnership
Vision:
SPSA Pillars
Giving priority to the welfare of People of all backgrounds, ethnicity, religion, etc.
Protect our planet's natural resources and climate for future generations.
Ensure prosperous and fulfilling lives in harmony with nature.
Foster peaceful, just and inclusive society.
Implement the agenda through a solid global partnership.
Create a thriving community of sustainability professionals who are equipped with the knowledge, resources, and connections needed to drive positive change towards a more sustainable future in Saudi Arabia.
Mission:
Creating an international multi-sector platform in Saudi Arabia that adopts sustainable measures and collaborates to find solutions to today’s most pressing economic, environmental and socio-political problems.
UNRAVELING THE WORLD OF CARBON CREDITS FOR SAUDI INVESTORS
EDITORIAL
As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, the concept of carbon credits has gained significant attention in the realm of sustainable investing. Carbon credits, also known as carbon offsets, are a way for companies and individuals to acknowledge and offset their carbon emissionsbyinvestinginprojectsthatreducegreenhousegasemissionselsewhere.
For Saudi investors looking to make a positive impact on the environment while also potentially earning returns,understanding theworldofcarboncredits iscrucial. Inthisblogseries, wewill delve intotheintricaciesofcarboncredits,howtheywork,andthepotentialbenefitsforSaudiinvestors. In recent years, SaudiArabia has taken steps towards implementing carbon credit projects to address its carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change. The country is rich in renewableenergyresourcessuchassolarandwindpower,makingitripeforsustainabledevelopment projects that can generate carbon credits. In 2019, Saudi Arabia launched the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, aiming to plant billions of trees, reduce emissions, and promote sustainability in various sectors. With these initiatives in place, Saudi Arabia is poised to become a key player in the carbon credit market, offering opportunities for investors to support and benefit fromthetransitiontowardsamoresustainablefuture.
1.UnderstandingtheConceptofCarbonCredits
Delving into the intricate realm of Carbon Credits unveils a transformative approach to environmental sustainability. These credits represent a quantifiable measure of greenhouse gas reductions, traded in financial markets to incentivize eco-friendly practices. Understanding the nuances behind Carbon Credits is paramount for Saudi investors looking to diversify theirportfolioswithsustainable assets.Bygraspingthe concept of how these credits are earned through emission reduction projects and subsequently sold or traded, investors can align their financial goals with impactful environmental initiatives. This comprehension not only fosters responsible investment decisions but also contributes to the global fight against climate change. In a rapidly evolving market, staying informed and educated on the dynamics of Carbon Credits is key to making informed and impactfulinvestmentchoices.
2.BenefitsofInvestinginCarbonCredits
Unlocking the potential of investing in Carbon Credits can yield significant benefits for Saudi investors. By acquiring these credits, investors not only contribute to global sustainability efforts but also position themselves strategically in a rapidly evolving market. The benefits extend beyond financial gains, offering a sense of environmental stewardship and social responsibility Diversifying investment portfolios with Carbon Credits can mitigate risks associated with traditional assets, providing a hedge against market volatility. Furthermore, the growing demand for sustainable practices creates a favorable environment for these investments to thrive. Embracing this opportunity allows Saudi investors to align their financial goals with impactful contributions to combating climate change on a global scale. As the worldtransitionstowardsagreenereconomy,investing in Carbon Credits emerges as a forward-thinking strategywithmultifacetedbenefits.
3. How Saudi Investors Can Get Involved in the CarbonCreditsMarket
Curious about how Saudi investors can tap into the dynamic world of carbon credits? Well, the process is more accessible than you might think. By partnering with reputable carbon credit providers and staying informed about market trends, Saudi investors can actively participate in this environmentally conscious investment arena. Whether through direct purchase or financial instruments linked to carbon credits, there are various entry points for investors looking to make a positive impact while also seeking potential financial returns. Additionally, collaborating with experts in sustainable finance can offer valuable insights and guidance on navigating this evolving market landscape. Embracing the opportunities presented by carbon credits not only aligns with global sustainability goals but also opens doors to a new realm of investment possibilities for Saudi investors willingtoexplorethisinnovativesector.
In carbon credit projects in Saudi Arabia, key stakeholders typically include government agencies, private companies, international organizations, and project developers. The Saudi government plays a crucial role in setting carbon mitigation targets, implementing regulations, and providing incentives for carbon credit projects. Private companies, particularly those in the energy, industrial, and transportation sectors, are important stakeholders as they can invest in projects to reduce their carbon emissions and meet regulatory requirements. International organizations such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) may also be involved in certifying and monitoring carbon credit projects in Saudi Arabia. Project developers, including renewable energy companies and environmental consultants, are responsible for designing and implementing projects that generate carbon credits. Cooperation and collaboration among these stakeholders are essential for the success of carbon credit projects in Saudi Arabia.
4. Challenges and Risks Associated with Carbon CreditsInvestments
Embarking on the journey of investing in carbon credits opens doors to opportunities, yet it is crucial to navigate through the challenges and risks that come hand in hand. The volatility of the carbon market, regulatory changes, and uncertainties in the pricing mechanisms pose significant hurdles for investors. Understanding the complex web of international policies and compliance requirements demands meticulous attention to detail. Moreover, the risk of market manipulation and fraudulent schemes underscores the importance of due diligence and transparency in every transaction. Mitigating these risks requires a strategic approach, diversification of investments, and staying informed about market trends. Despite these challenges, with proper risk management strategies and a long-term perspective, investors can effectively navigate the unpredictable terrain of carbon credits investments and harness their potentialforsustainablereturns.
5. Strategies for Maximizing Returns on Carbon CreditsInvestments
Exploring innovative strategies is crucial for maximizing returns on Carbon Credits investments. Diversifying your portfolio across different types of carbon offset projects can help spread risks and optimize profitability. Monitoring market trends and staying informed about regulatory changes is essential for making informed investment decisions in this dynamic sector. Leveraging technology tools for data analysis and risk management can provide a competitive edge in the market. Collaborating with experienced professionals and consulting with sustainability experts can offer valuable insights for identifying high-potential projects. Implementing a proactive approach to risk mitigation and staying adaptable to market fluctuations are key principles for success in the Carbon Credits market. By continuously evaluating performance metrics and adjusting strategies accordingly, investors can enhance their returnsandcontributetoasustainablefuture.
6. Examples of successful carbon credit projects fromaroundtheglobe
The Jari Pará REDD+ Project in Brazil: This project focuses on reducing deforestation and forestdegradationintheJariregionofParástatein Brazil.Byprotectingandmanagingtheforestarea, the project aims to prevent carbon emissions and promotesustainableforestmanagement.
The Gregory Gold Standard Clean Cookstoves Project in Kenya: This project distributes improved cookstoves to households in Kenya, reducing the reliance on traditional biomass fuels and decreasing carbon emissions. The initiative also aims to improve indoor air quality and reduce healthrisksassociatedwithindoorcooking.
The Saradambika Hydro Power Project in Sri Lanka: This project involves the construction and operation of a hydroelectric power plant in Sri Lanka, generating clean and renewable energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by displacingfossilfuel-basedelectricitygeneration.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Biomass Thermal CDM Project in India: This project utilizes renewable biomass resources to provide thermal energy for operations in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions in the transportationsector.
The Garafiri Hydropower Project in Côte d'Ivoire: This hydropowerproject inCôte d'Ivoiregenerates clean electricity by harnessing the power of water resources, displacing the need for carbon-intensive energy sources and contributing to the country's renewableenergytransition.
The Wind Power Project Penonome in Panama: This wind power project in Panama involves the installation and operation of wind turbines to generate clean electricity from renewable sources and reduce carbon emissions in the country's energysector.
The Ouarzazate Concentrated Solar Power Project in Morocco: This solar power project in Ouarzazate, Morocco, utilizes concentrated solar power technology to generate electricity from the abundant sunlight in the region, reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy development.
The Kuyasa Low-Income Energy Efficiency Project in South Africa: This project focuses on implementing energy-efficient solutions in lowincome households in South Africa, reducing energy consumption, lowering carbon emissions, andimprovinglivingconditionsforresidents.
The Sichuan Miyaluo Wind Power Project in China:This wind power project in Sichuan, China, harnesses the region's wind resources to generate cleanelectricity,displacingfossilfuel-basedpower generation and reducing carbon emissions in the province.
The Nicaragua Sugar Mill Project: This project aims to reduce methane emissions from a sugar mill in Nicaragua by capturing the gas released during sugar production and converting it into clean energy. By mitigating methane emissions, the project helps combat climate change and promotessustainabledevelopmentintheregion.
6. Conclusion: Exploring the Potential of Carbon CreditsforSaudiInvestors
Delving into the intricate realm of carbon credits unveils a world of possibilities for Saudi investors seeking sustainable investment avenues. The potential of carbon credits lies in their capacity to not only drive environmental progress but also yield financial returns. By understanding the dynamics of this market, Saudi investors can strategically position themselves to benefit from the growing demand for carbon offsets. Navigating the challenges and risks associated with carbon credit investments requires a meticulous approach, emphasizing due diligence and risk management strategies. To maximize returns in this evolving landscape, Saudi investors can explore innovative tactics and leverage expert guidance to optimize their investment portfolios. As the global focus on sustainability intensifies, the journey of exploringthepotentialofcarboncreditsopensdoorsto a promising future for Saudi investors committed to driving positive change and financial growth simultaneously.
HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY IN SAUDI ARABIA: THE GREEN PATIENT JOURNEY
Within a predominantly arid climate with low rainfall and growing reliance on ground water and desalination, water remains a strategic resource Healthcare’s use of water in sterilization, cleaning, and operations is a pressing issue, but Saudi Arabia’s leadership in desalination and its investments in water recycling position the Kingdom to transform this vulnerability into a globalmodelforsmarthospitalwatermanagement
MedicalWaste
The expansion of healthcare inevitably produces significant volumes of hazardous and nonhazardous waste. While this poses a risk to both health and the environment, it is also a chance to advance circular economy practices, turning medical waste segregation and recycling into anew Saudiindustrialvaluechain
SupplyChains
Heavy dependence on imported pharmaceuticals, equipment, and single-use supplies exposes the sector to both environmental and strategic risks COVID-19 revealed the fragility of GlobalHealth supply chains, where delays impacted patient care and shipments increased emissions. Yet Saudi Arabia is already moving to localize production, build new pharmaceutical and medical factories, and digitize supply systems This positions the Kingdom not only to mitigate the challenge but to establish resilient, low-carbon supply chains as a competitiveadvantage
While global averages suggest that the majority of healthcare emissions come from supply chains (Scope 3), Saudi Arabia has the opportunity to developitsownnationalbenchmarkthroughfuture reportinganddatacollection.
OpportunitiesandSaudiSolutions
Despitetheenvironmentalandstructuralpressures, Saudi Arabia has the resources and ambition to transform its healthcare sector into a global model of sustainable care. These are not merely technical fixes but integrated opportunities with environmental,economic,andsocialvalue
Solar-PoweredHospitals
With some of the world’s richest solar resources and flagship projects like NEOM and the Red Sea Project, the Kingdom can pioneer the first generation of hospitals powered entirely by renewable energy This transition reduces emissions, lowers longterm operating costs, creates green jobs for Saudi youth, and positions the Kingdom as an exporter of best practices in sustainablehospitaldesign
InnovativeWaterManagement
With the Kingdom’s global leadership in desalination and more than a thousand dams capturing seasonal rainfall, hospital water management becomes an opportunity for innovation. Reusing treatedwaterforcoolingsystemsorlandscapingnotonlyconserves scarce resources but also protects the economy’s most strategic input, positioning Saudi Arabia as a world leader in smart water solutionsforhealthcare
CircularEconomyforMedicalWaste
Challenges around waste can catalyse the adoption of the National Circular Economy Strategy within healthcare. By innovating in segregation, treatment, and recycling, medical waste can shift from liability to asset. This reduces costs, creates new industries and jobs, and positions Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for sustainable medicalwastemanagementtechnologies
LocalizingSustainableSupplyChains
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains. Saudi Arabia is responding through the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) and industrial funds, building local pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing while digitizing supply networks This strengthens national health security and enables the Kingdom to establish resilient, low-carbon supply chains as a strategic advantage
Digital Transformation and the Virtual Health Hospital
The Virtual Health Hospital (VHH)recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest virtual hospital in the world, is a living Saudi example of healthcare sustainability It reduces patient travel, cuts fuel use and emissions, and expands access to advanced care without the environmental cost of physical expansion This positions Saudi Arabia at the forefront of combining digitalhealthwithenvironmentalstewardship.
TheSaudiGreenPatientJourney
While global literature often refers to “sustainable care pathways,” Saudi Arabia advances this concept further through the Green Patient Journey A Saudi-born framework that integrates sustainability at every stage of healthcaredelivery
Prevention:
Strong national public health campaigns, wellness programs, and digital awareness platforms reduce hospital admissions, lowering both resource use and healthcare costs This ensures sustainability starts before the patient evenentersthehospital
Diagnosis&Treatment:
Hospitals designed with renewable energy systems, AIoptimized operations, and smart energy management reduce inefficiency, cut emissions, and improve patient outcomesatthesametime.
Recovery&Follow-up:
Telehealth consultations and AI-powered remote monitoring minimize unnecessary travel, saving time, costs, and emissions while extending access to rural and remotecommunities
End-of-LifeofMaterials:
A robust recycling and waste management ecosystem ensures that hospital activities do not leave behind a harmful footprint. Medical products, packaging, and devices are fed back into circular economy value chains. This is more than a technical framework; it is a strategic vision The Saudi Green Patient Journey connects environmental responsibility with healthcare efficiency, national resilience, and global leadership By embedding sustainability into every step of the patient’s experience, SaudiArabia is not only protecting lives but also shaping a modelofhealthcarethattheworldcanlearnfrom.
SaudiArabiaasaGlobalLeader
What sets Saudi Arabia apart is not only its natural resources or financial capacity, but also the speed and scale of its transformation While other nations required decades to green their Health systems, Saudi Arabia has the advantageofbuildinggreenfieldprojectshospitals,medical cities, and digital platforms designed with sustainability at their core from day one. The Kingdom’s approach is not incremental but transformative. With initiatives like the Virtual Health Hospital, recognized by Guinness World Records, Saudi Arabia is already showcasing how innovation and sustainability can converge into world-first models This positions SaudiArabia to go beyond meeting its own needs: to export knowledge, technologies, and policy frameworks to regions facing similar challenges in water scarcity, rapid urbanization, and climate adaptation By embedding healthcare into its national sustainability vision, the Kingdom is not following global trends, it is shapingthem
Conclusion
Sustainable healthcare in SaudiArabia is more than a policy goal; it is a national responsibility and a moral imperative. Protecting human health cannot be separated from protecting the environment in which people live.TheGreen Patient Journey embodies this vision. It is not an imported idea but a Saudi-born framework that aligns withVision 2030, transforming healthcare into a system that heals without harming, that treats patients while safeguarding the planetIn a world searching for new models, Saudi Arabia can tell a different story: how a nation rich in natural resources, ambition, and vision can turn its hospitals into beacons of humanity and sustainability. This is not only a path for Saudi Arabia’s future, but also a contributiontotheglobalfutureofhealthcare.
References
Harvard Medicine Magazine. (2023). Confronting health care’scarbonfootprint.
Harvard Medical School.https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/confronti ng-health-cares-carbon-footprint
HealthCareWithoutHarm.(2019).
Health care’s climate footprint: How the healthsector contributestotheglobalclimatecrisisandopportunitiesfor action.Retrievedfromhttps://noharm.org
Saudi Ministry of Health. (2022).Virtual Health Hospital recognized by GuinnessWorld Records. Riyadh: Ministry of Health Press Release.https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/MediaCenter/ News
Saudi Vision 2030. (2016). Vision 2030 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Government ofSaudi Arabia.https://www.vision2030.gov.sa
World Health Organization.(2018). Healthcare without harm: Reducing climate impactof healthcare. WHO Press.https://www.who.intAuthor Bio:Abdulelah Alqahtani is a Saudi graduate in Medical Science and a senior student ofBusiness(Sustainability & Development) at Deakin University, Australia. He ispassionate about integrating healthcare and sustainability to support Saudi Arabia’sVision2030andtheglobalgreentransformation.
"Make a big impact by making a little impact"
HOW SMART IRRIGATION TURNS UTILITIES INTO MEASURABLE
WATER, ENERGY, AND CO₂ SAVINGS
SaudiArabia'sVision2030outlinesanambitiousfuture,andatitscoreliessustainable development Inaregiondefinedbyitsaridclimate,theefficientmanagementofwater resourcesisnotjustanenvironmentalimperative,butacriticaleconomicone This articleproposesasmart-cityapproachtoirrigation,demonstratinghowsensor-based systemsandactiveleakmanagementcandeliversubstantialsavingsinwater,energy,and CO₂emissions,directlysupportingtheKingdom'ssustainabilitygoals
Applying the same conservative logic to King Salman Park, a project encompassing over 11 km² of green areas and 1 million trees within its 16.6 km² footprint, reveals the potential for national-scale impact. Assuming the use of treated wastewater (TSE), savings will stem from precise control rather than solely from the water source With IoT soil-moisture sensing, evapotranspiration (ET)-based scheduling, and pressure/flow analytics, irrigation zones will be watered only when necessary, leaks will be quickly isolated, and seasonal setpoints will be finely tuned This approach will yield measurable and reportable reductions forESGdashboards.
Applying the 25% savings logic from the Madinah proposal toKingSalmanPark:
Green-area basis: Approximately 116 million m² (calculatedat7L/m²/day×365)
Baseline irrigation: An estimated 296 billion liters per year
25% water saving: A remarkable 7.4 billion liters of water saved annually (approximately 7.41 million m³/year).
Energy avoided: An estimated 1.48–2.96 GWh of energy saved per year (based on a TSE benchmark of 0.2–0.4kWh/m³).
CO₂ avoided: A reduction of approximately 077–181 kilotons of CO₂ annually (using Saudi grid intensity of 052–061kgCO₂/kWh)
Operationally, this translates to a more efficient system where irrigation set points are dynamically adjusted, leak alerts become timestamped work orders, and weekly reviews track "water per m²" outliers. This empowers crews to proactively fix issues based on impact, quietly improving KPIswithoutincreasingheadcountorcomplexity.
Execution:APractical,UncomplicatedApproach
Implementing these smart irrigation solutions doesn't requireover-engineering Thekeystepsare:
Instrument &Automate: Utilize real-time sensor signals to control irrigation. Valves should only open when specific zones require water.Abnormal flow or pressure should trigger automated alerts, eliminating human guesswork
Tier the Leak SLA: Establish a tiered response system for leaks based on severity: ≤3 hours for high-flow losses,6–24hoursformoderateleaks,andmulti-dayfor minor seepage, aligning with established utility repair benchmarks.
Display a Live Savings Counter: Publicly track avoided liters,kWh,SaudiRiyals(SAR),andtonsofCO₂onthe project's ESG dashboard This provides tangible proof ofimpact,movingbeyondmerepromises
Procure for Outcomes: Link vendor payments to independently verified water-saving KPIs and leakresponse SLAs, ensuring that results directly drive revenue.
Expand in Rings: Begin with pilot beds, then scale to the full park site, and finally replicate the system in city mediansandotherpublicgreenzones.
MethodologySnapshot:SupportingImpactCalculations For ESG reviewers, editors, and financiers, the following methodologyunderpinstheseimpactcalculations:
Carbon Emissions Factor:Agrid factor of 0.52–0.61 kg CO₂/kWh, based on credible recent benchmarks for Saudi Arabia, was applied for electricity-related calculations.
Scope 2 vs. Scope 3 Emissions: Irrigation reductions primarily impact Scope 2 emissions (from purchased electricity for pumps and water treatment) when a project operates its own pumps They also contribute to Scope 3 emissions (in goods/services like water procurement and infrastructure) when less treated water ispurchased.
Benchmarking the 25% Saving: This conservative assumption is based on the documented ~25% savings achieved by citywide smart-irrigation programs (e.g., Barcelona) through the implementation of sensors and automatedcontrols
Area Reference (King Salman Park): Official communications confirm over 11 km² of green areas (approximately 116 million m²) and 1 million trees withinthe166km²projectfootprint
ACalltoAction:ScalingforaSustainableFuture
These measurable utility savings directly contribute to Vision 2030’s sustainability and livability targets, offering a replicable model for future green mega-projects across the Kingdom Saudi Arabia is undertaking historic-scale plantinginitiatives IfRuaAl-Madinahcanachieveaquarter reduction in its irrigation water, Riyadh has the potential to go even further King Salman Park could become the world’s first mega-park with live, third-party-verifiable counters for water, energy, and CO₂ savings from irrigation. The blueprint is ready; it simply awaits widespread implementation.
“WE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF NATURE.”
Henry David Thoreau
SMART HEALTH STOPS: PROMOTING
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY
AT SAUDI TRANSPORT HUBS
1.ExecutiveSummary
This proposal introduces “Smart Health Stops”—an innovative initiative to install solar-powered digital health kiosks at major bus, metro, and transport hubs across Saudi Arabia. These health stations will encourage public health awareness and support sustainable living by enabling citizens and residents to monitor key health indicators while promoting ecoconscious behavior in line with the Saudi Vision2030goalsforhealth,environment, andqualityoflife.
2.ContextandRationale
Saudi Arabia faces a growing public health challenge: increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, and lifestyle-related diseases. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, lifestyle diseases contribute significantly to healthcare costs and reduced quality of life. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in sustainable urban development, renewable energy, and green mobility Integrating public health promotion with sustainable infrastructure can address both health outcomes and environmental goals, create healthier communities and reduce longtermeconomicburdens.
3.ProjectDescription
Smart Health Stops will be placed at hightraffic transport hubs such as Riyadh Metro stations, Jeddah Corniche bus terminals, and NEOM’s planned sustainablemobilityhubs
Author: AbdulHananArshad,
Eachkioskwillfeature:
Free or low-cost digital weight and BMI measurement inArabicandEnglish.
On-screen guidance on healthy weight, diet, and physicalactivity(alignedwithSaudiMinistryofHealth recommendations).
QR codes linking to Vision 2030-aligned fitness and nutritionresources.
Educational messaging on the link between healthy lifestylesandenvironmentalsustainability
App integration for health tracking and participation in rewards programmed with local fitness centers or healthyfoodoutlets.
All kiosks will be powered by solar energy, reflecting SaudiArabia’sleadershipinrenewableenergy.
The Smart Health Stops project offers a cost-effective, scalable solution that addresses pressing health challenges while promoting sustainability in Saudi Arabia. By leveraging renewable energy and strategic public partnerships, this initiative will contribute to the Quality-of-Life Program and Saudi Vision 2030 objectives,creatinghealthier,moresustainablecitiesforfuturegenerations.
6.StakeholderInvolvement
*Stewart Udall
“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.”
STEWART UDALL
SOLAR SYNGAS FROM CO2: A STEP TOWARDS
A GREENER FUTURE
Syngas,orsynthesisgas,isafuelgasmixtureprimarilycomposedofhydrogen(H₂)andcarbon monoxide (CO), with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen. It is typically produced through processes like coal gasification, biomass gasification, or steam reforming of natural gas. The key reaction involves carbon reacting with steam to form CO and H₂. Syngas enables the conversion of low-value feedstocks, including waste, into useful fuels and chemicals. Its production and use play a significant role in cleaner energy technologies, with potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS) Thus, syngas is essential for both current industrialprocessesandthetransitiontoalow-carbonfuture
Syngas can be converted into various products, including fuels like methanol, ethanol, and synthetic diesel or gasoline It's also used to produce chemicals such as ammonia, acetic acid, and oxo-alcohols. Additionally, syngas can generate energy through electricity production or hydrogen fuel cells. These diverse applications make syngas a valuable intermediate in the production of fuels, chemicals, and energy from various feedstocks like natural gas, coal, biomass,orwastematerials.
ReverseWater-GasShiftReaction(RWGS)
The Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS) reaction is beneficial for producing pure carbon monoxide In the RWGS process, CO₂ is converted to syngas Solar energy is utilized to provide the heat and power for this process A water splitter separates water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen through the addition of solar energy A chemical reactor chamber then mixes solar-heated carbon dioxide gas with all or a portion of the hydrogen molecules from the water splitter in an RWGS reaction to produce carbon monoxide. In the RWGS reaction, H₂ reactswithCO₂toformamixtureofsyngasandwater,accordingtothefollowingreaction:
Solar Energy Concentration: Solar receivers focus the sun's energy onto a unit containing a chemical reactor to heat gas, providing the energy needed for chemical transformations
Water Splitting: Water molecules are split into hydrogen and oxygen via the addition of solar power directed from heliostats or a parabolictrough.
CO₂ Heating: A solar energy-to-gas heat exchanger heats CO₂ gas using solar power fromheliostats,potentiallypre-heatingfeed gaseswithrecycledand/orwastegas.
RWGS Reaction: The heated CO₂ gas is mixed with all or a portion of the hydrogen gas from the water splitting process in the solar-assisted endothermic reverse watergas-shift reaction to produce carbon monoxideandwatermolecules.
Author:AliakbarAkbar
CatalystsForTheRWGSProcess
Various catalysts have been explored for the RWGS reaction,including:
NobleMetalCatalysts:NoblemetalslikePt,Pd,and Rh have shown high activity and selectivity for the RWGS reaction However, their high cost and limited availability make them less attractive for large-scaleapplications
Transition Metal Catalysts: Transition metals like Fe, Co, and Ni have been investigated as potential catalysts for the RWGS reaction. These metals are less expensive than noble metals and can exhibit highactivityandselectivity.
Metal Oxide Catalysts: Metal oxides like CeO₂, ZrO₂, and TiO₂ have been explored as catalysts for the RWGS reaction These oxides can exhibit high activity and stability, making them promising candidatesforindustrialapplications
Scaling Up: RWGS processes need to be scaled up for commercial applications while maintaining efficiencyandreducingcosts
Catalyst Stability: Developing stable and efficient catalysts is crucial for the long-term operation of RWGSprocesses
Integration with Liquid Fuel Synthesis: Further research is needed to seamlessly integrate RWGS withliquidfuelsynthesisprocesses.
SyngasMarket
The Global Syngas Market is on a trajectory of substantial growth, driven by the increasing demand for syngas in the chemical industry, particularly for synthetic natural gas production According to MRFR Analysis, the market was valued at USD 5816 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 105.16 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.10% from 2025 to 2034. This growth is largely attributed to advancements in gasification technologies, which have improved the efficiency and costeffectivenessofsyngasproduction.
The chemical industry's demand for syngas is a significant driver of market growth Syngas is a crucial feedstock for the production of various chemicals, including methanol, ammonia, and synthetic natural gas The increasing demand for these chemicals in various industries, such as energy, agriculture, and manufacturing, is expected to drive the demand for syngas.
Despite the growth prospects, the syngas market faces challenges, including high capital investments and lengthy technology implementation times The production of syngas requires significant investment in infrastructure, including gasification plants and transportation systems Additionally, the implementation of new technologies can be time-consuming, which may slow down the market's growth.
Advancements in gasification technologies are expected to play a crucial role in driving market growth These technologies have improved the efficiency and costeffectiveness of syngas production, making it a more viable option for various industries Furthermore, the development of new applications for syngas, such as powergenerationandfuelproduction,isexpectedtocreate newopportunitiesformarketgrowth.
Overall, the Global Syngas Market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years, driven by increasing demand from the chemical industry and advancements in gasification technologies However, the market's growth will be influenced by factors such as capital investments, technology implementation times, and environmentalregulations
RWGSforMartianMissions
The RWGS reaction is also gaining interest in the context of human missions to Mars, primarily due to its potential to produce water. Since the Martian atmosphere is approximately 95% carbon dioxide, this CO₂ can be utilized for the RWGS reaction if a hydrogen source is supplied This makes RWGS a promising technology for in-situresourceutilizationonMars
ECO INDUSTRIAL PARKS. AN INTEGRATED APPLICATION OF EMBRACING SUSTAINABILITY
I was lucky to work on the sustainability aspects in an Eco Industrial Park project in Egypt, in its early design stages, the opportunity that drove me to dig deep in the international frameworks, local guidelines and implemented projects as pilot examples of Eco-Industrial Parks worldwide. That privileged work experience reinforced my belief in the exponential benefitsandsynergeticimpactofengineeringprojectswhenplannedanddesignedwithclear sustainabilityobjectivesandleadingorientation
An eco-industrial park is a business park linked to the green and circular economy, that is, a community of companies, located in a common area, that try to obtain better environmental, economicandsocialperformance.*1
Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) represent a transformative approach to industrial development that transcends traditional economic projects design and planning, that’s by integrating sustainabilityprinciplesintotheveryfabricofmasterplanning,designandoperations.These sustainability-oriented and systems-thinking integrated approaches demonstrate how thoughtful engineering design across multiple disciplines can create synergistic relationships between industries, communities, and the environment By embedding principles of industrial symbiosis, resource efficiency, circular economy, and sustainable waste management, as well as community, CSR and social well-being, EIPs serve as living demonstration of sustainable development, offering tangible pathways toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while maintaining economic viability,sociallivabilityaswellasenvironmentalprotection.
Industrial Symbiosis: The Foundation of Collaborative Sustainability and The Main PlanningDrive
Industrial symbiosis can be defined as a collaborative approach in which the residues from one industrial process serve as nutrients for another, creating a closed-loop system that mimics natural ecosystems This concept aims to enhance resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact by forming integrated industrial networks that share materials, energy, and information. Industrial symbiosis forms the cornerstone of eco-industrial park design, representing a paradigm shift from linear "take-make-dispose" models to interconnected networks where waste from one industry becomes input for another. This concept manifests through sophisticated engineering systems that facilitate the exchange of materials, energy, resources,andknowledgebetweenco-locatedcompanies.
Examples of industrial symbiosis could be the waste output produced by a factory or industrial developer can an input for another manufacturer through waste collection and recycling central areas and processes, and the process/industrial water output produced from the processes of one factory can be used as an input for the cooling or cleaning processes of another manufacturer, same can be applied for energy generation systems, also manufacturersusejoint(shared)centralinfrastructureutilities;liketreatmentplants. This integration requires advanced process engineering, including specialized heat exchangers, pipeline networks, and automated control systems that optimize resource flows inreal-time,whichisbestappliediftakenintodesignconsiderationattheplanningphasesof earlyMasterPlanningandconceptdesignstages
Author:AliaElbeialy
Resource Efficiency Through Multi-Disciplinary Engineering
Resource efficiency in EIPs extends beyond simple resources conservation measures to encompass comprehensive engineering solutions that maximize value extraction from every input Here’s where sustainability lens and governance should orient, coordinate and orchestrate the multi-disciplinary design teams to follow green aspects and integrated sustainable design considerations, preferably from the very early planning and design stages, so that designs among multiple disciplines are flowing in harmony and integration, and here’s also where the significance and efficiencyofsystemsthinkingintegrationmanifest
Resource Conservation and Recovery Programs (RCRP)
Resource Conservation and Recovery Programs in EIPs represent systematic approaches to maximizing resource utilization efficiency through comprehensive monitoring, optimization, and recovery systems. These programs require integration of advanced sensor technologies, data analytics, and process optimization techniquesacrossmultipleengineeringdisciplines One example is The Singapore Eco-Industrial Park demonstrates advanced resource efficiency through its integrated utility systems The park employs cogeneration facilities that simultaneously produce electricity and process steam, achieving thermal efficiencies exceeding 80% compared to 35-40% for conventional separate systems. Mechanical engineers design high-efficiency turbines and heat recovery systems,whileelectricalengineersimplementsmartgrid technologies that optimize power distribution based on real-timedemandpatterns
Water resource efficiency is achieved through multistage treatment and reuse systems. Environmental engineersdesignmembranebioreactors,reverseosmosis systems, and advanced oxidation processes that enable multiple water recycling loops. Each industrial process receives water quality tailored to its specific requirements, from ultra-pure water for semiconductor manufacturing to treated process water for cooling systems Civil engineers design intelligent stormwater management systems that capture, treat, and reuse precipitation through green infrastructure including bioswales, constructed wetlands, and permeable pavements.
Another example is Kalundborg Symbiosis, Danimarca , conceived in 1972, Kalundborg Symbiosis is located in Kalundborg, in the region of Zealand, about a hundred kilometers from Copenhagen It is the world's first example of “industrial symbiosis”: a circular ecosystem where 17 public and private companies collaborate, exchanging resources such as steam, cooling water and waste materials
The basic principle is that the waste flows in one company become resource flows for the others, benefiting both the environment and the economy. Each year, this system allows the partner companies to save 4 million cubic meters of groundwater, thanks to the use of surface water, and 586,000 tons of CO₂ This adds up to the fact that 62,000 tons of recycled wastematerialsareused
The Kalundborg Symbiosis model is a global benchmarkforthecirculareconomy,sincecontributes to the economic growth of the local community and thetransitiontoalow-carbonindustry.*1
Circular
Economy Principles in Action and SustainableWasteManagementIntegration
The circular economy concept finds its most tangible expression in EIPs through comprehensive materials recovery and regeneration systems. Sustainable waste management in EIPs goes far beyond conventional treatment approaches to encompass waste-to-resource transformation,energyrecovery,andecosystem-based treatment solutions. This integration requires sophisticated engineering solutions that address waste streams at their source while creating value-added outputs It is crucial to include central waste deposit areasintheearlystagesofEIPMasterplanning
IntegrationwithSustainabilityPillarsandSDGs
The engineering solutions implemented in EIPs directly address the three pillars of sustainability while advancing multiple SDGs. Environmental sustainability is achieved through reduced resource consumption, waste minimization, and pollution prevention The advanced treatment technologies and resource recovery systems directly contribute to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by providing efficient watertreatmentandrenewableenergygeneration.
Economic sustainability results from reduced operating costs through resource sharing, waste circularity, and economy of scale benefits. Industrial symbiosis relationships create new revenue streams and reduce input costs, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and EconomicGrowth)andSDG9(Industry,Innovationand Infrastructure) The innovation and technology development nourishing in EIP design creates highvalue employment opportunities and supports economic diversification.
Social sustainability is addressed through community integration, environmental health improvements, and stakeholder engagement. The reduced environmental impact of EIP operations contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) while the collaborative governance structures required for successful EIP operation advance SDG 17 (Partnerships fortheGoals).
The Role of International Frameworks, Governance andKnowledgeSharing
The sound design, planning and implementation and integration of sustainability aspects in EIPs from planning stages to implementation to operation, is only guaranteed and supported by the presence of wellprepared and dynamic guideline frameworks like the main guideline of International Framework for Eco Industrial Parks developed by UNIDO, World Bank Group and GIZ, EIPUNIDO frameworks online courses and knowledge sharing, dynamically updated publications reflecting projects pilot designs and implementations body of knowledge for implemented and success stories of EIPs worldwide, as well as local guidelines
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
George Bernard Shaw
ASPIRING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY: A GUIDE FOR JUNIOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
In today’s rapidly evolving world, sustainability is no longer a buzzword, it’s a professional necessity. Whether you're a junior architect, engineer, or project manager, aligning your career with sustainable development is not just ethical, it’s strategic. From complying with local regulations to achieving global certifications, understanding sustainability is vital for long-term success both forindividualsandtheorganizationstheyserve
This guide outlines essential frameworks and certifications every junior professional should understand and apply, particularly within the context of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the growing demand for environmentally responsibleandhealth-consciousbuiltenvironments.
1.UnderstandingtheVision:SaudiVision2030&Mostadam
A natural starting point for professionals working in Saudi Arabia is Saudi Vision 2030 an ambitious national transformation plans that places sustainability,economicdiversification,andimprovedqualityoflifeatitscore
One of the primary tools supporting this vision is Mostadam, the Kingdom’s own sustainability rating system for buildings Tailored to the region’s environmental conditions and cultural identity, Mostadam promotes practical andscalablesustainabilityfortheSaudicontext.
Mostadam goes beyond energy efficiency it reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to preserving its natural resources, empowering its local economy, andshowcasingitsrichculturalheritagethroughsustainableconstruction
2. Building Green Legally: SBC 2024 and Saudi Green Building Code (SBC 1001)
Sustainability in Saudi Arabia is not only encouraged it's mandatory. The Saudi Building Code (SBC) 2024 requires that all new construction projects adhere to updated standards of structural safety, energy efficiency, and environmentalperformance Particularly relevant to green design is SBC 1001 – The Saudi Green Building Code,whichprovides: Comprehensivecriteriaforenergy,water,andwasteefficiency Guidelinesforsustainablesiteselectionandmaterialuse Measuresforoccupantcomfortandoperationaleffectiveness
Tip for Juniors: Deep familiarity with the Saudi Building Codes is essential. Not only does it ensure legal compliance, but it also demonstrates your commitment toresponsibledesignandenhancesyourtechnicalcredibility
3. Going Global: LEED v5 – A Performance-Driven SustainabilityStandard
While Mostadam anchors your knowledge locally, gaining exposure to international standards broadens your horizons and your career options The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the world’s most widely adopted greenbuildingframework.
With the launch of LEED Version 5, the system has become more dynamic, performance-based, and datadriven
WhatMakesLEEDv5aGame-Changer?
•PerformanceMonitoring&OperationalTransparency
Incorporates real-time data for energy, water, and carbonmetrics
Encouragement of low-carbon materials, climate resilience,andlifecycleanalysis
•Sector-SpecificCertifications
Tailored pathways for sectors such as healthcare, retail,datacenters,andwarehouses
•Human-CenteredDesign
Prioritizes occupant well-being through indoor air quality,lightaccess,andthermalcomfort
HowtoGetStartedwithLEEDv5
EarnyourLEEDGreenAssociatecredential
Pursue a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) specialty
GainexperienceonLEED-registeredprojects
Stay engaged with resources and webinars from USGBC.org
WhyLEEDMattersinSaudiArabia
LEED complements national efforts like Mostadam and SBC 1001 while preparing professionals for global opportunities With multinational developers and consultants active in the Kingdom, LEED fluency can opendoorsacrossbordersandsectors.
4. Designing for People: WELL Certification and Health-FocusedSustainability
Sustainability isn't only about the planet it’s also about people Enter the WELL Building Standard, a globally recognized framework that prioritizes human health, wellness,andproductivityinthebuiltenvironment.
DevelopedbytheInternationalWELLBuildingInstitute (IWBI), WELL Certification is rooted in science and public health principles, integrating strategies that supportbothphysicalandmentalwell-being
CoreConceptsofWELLCertification:
Air: Ensure high indoor air quality with effective filtrationandlow-emissionmaterials
Water: Deliver clean, accessible drinking water and supportproperhydration
Nourishment: Encourage healthy eating through designandpolicies
Light: Maximize natural lighting and minimize disruptiontocircadianrhythms
Fitness: Promote physical activity via stairs, walkways,andmovement-friendlyspaces
Comfort: Optimize acoustics, temperature, and ergonomicsforoccupantsatisfaction
Mind: Support mental health with biophilic design, quietareas,andpsychologicalsafety
Community: Foster social connection and inclusion withinandaroundthebuilding
WELLinAction:HowtoStart
Study and earn the WELL AP (Accredited Professional)credential
Participate in WELL-focused design reviews, building performance assessments, and occupant surveys
Integrate WELL strategies into early project planning for synergy with LEED or Mostadam frameworks
Why WELL Certification Is Relevant in the Gulf Region
In a region where indoor environments dominate daily life due to climate conditions, WELL offers a critical lens to improve health outcomes, productivity, and quality of life. WELL-aligned spaces are especially valuable in offices, schools, hospitals, and residential towers, making it a sought-after credential for professionalsworkingonpeople-centricprojects.
5. The Path Forward: Integrating Environmental andHumanSustainability
Thefutureofsustainabledevelopmentliesinintegration not choosing between LEED, Mostadam, WELL, or local codes, but understanding how they intersect Environmental and human-centric design are two sides of the same coin, and professionals who can balance bothwillbeattheforefrontoftheindustry.
Forjuniorprofessionals,nowisthetimeto:
Build foundational knowledge through self-study andcertifications
Seekmentorshiponsustainableprojects
Engage with communities like USGBC, IWBI, and localgreenbuildingcouncils
Embrace continuous learning as sustainability goals andtechnologiesevolve
FinalThoughts:SmallSteps,BigImpact
As a junior in the field, your curiosity, adaptability, and willingness to learn are your greatest assets Whether you’re working on a residential tower in Riyadh, a school in Jeddah, or a healthcare facility in Neom, your knowledge of sustainable and wellness-focused practices can help shape a better, greener, and healthier tomorrow.
“Sustainability is not a destination; it’s a professional journey. Take the first step today and keep walking forward.” Towards Targeting net-zero with MOSTADAM, LEED, WELL, and custom highperformancesustainabilitystandards
“Climate change is the greatest threat to our existence in our short history on this planet. going to buy their way out of its effects.”
Mark Ruffalo
GLOBAL GREENWASHING SCRUTINY IS RISING–SAUDI BUSINESSES CAN STAY AHEAD
Saudibusinessesarealreadychartinganambitiouscourseonsustainability.Acrossthe Kingdom, companies are making meaningful strides – but the bar is rising.As global standards tighten and scrutiny grows, the need to lead with credibility is increasingly urgent. ESG communications grounded in evidence, transparency, and accountability willsetapartSaudibusinessesreadytocompeteglobally–andthoseleftvulnerableto therisksofoverstatementandambiguity
FromPRtoCompliance:GreenwashingGetsReal
The perception that sustainability messaging can be used to enhance brand value has contributed to the prevalence, across the world, of greenwashing. Aspirational marketingnowcreatesregulatory,legal,andreputationalrisks.
In 2021, the European Commission found that more than 40 percent of environmental claims in Europe were misleading or unsubstantiated. Regulatory frameworks are tightening in response The EU’s proposed Green Claims Directive included provisions for penalties of up to 4 percent of annual turnover, and the exclusion of violators from public tenders The UK Financial Conduct Authority, the US Federal Trade Commission, and India’s consumer protection authorities have issued or updated parallel guidance Many of these rules apply extraterritorially, creating implicationsforSaudicompaniesactiveinglobalmarkets.
TheManyFormsofGreenwashingandHowtoAvoidThem
Greenwashing refers to presenting a company, product, or service as environmentally sustainable, without sufficient evidence This is often nuanced For example, it may involve emphasizing positive achievements while omitting material challenges Many sustainability reports focus on intent and success while underreporting trade-offs or gaps The absence of standardized definitions, metrics, and certifications adds further ambiguity
Commonmanifestationsinclude:
Selective disclosure, for example, highlighting reduced plastic use while omitting risingemissions
Vague and scientifically inaccurate claims, such as using terms like “green”, “carbon neutral”, “planet friendly”, “nature positive” or “net zero” without supportingevidence
Third-party laundering, including reliance on weak or unrelated certifications and inadequateduediligence
Visual overstatement, such as using the color green or nature-based imagery that suggestsgreaterenvironmentalprogressthansupportedbydata
With directors increasingly being held accountable by regulators for ESG-related misstatements and exaggerated claims, boards can no longer afford to ignoretherisks
According to TCB Benchmarking, companies in the S&P Europe 350 are formalizing how they govern sustainability, often assigning responsibility to the full board or a designated committee. Notably, 104 companies place ESG oversight with the audit committee, 33 with the general board, 25 with a dedicated ESG committee, and 45 have established standalone sustainability committees This shift reflects a growing consensus that ESG deserves the same level ofgovernanceasfinancialandoperationalrisks.
To meet this standard, boards must embed ESG oversight into their core duties, mandating scenario testing and legal review of major claims, breaking down silos between sustainability, legal, compliance, and communications functions, and keeping pace with fastevolvingglobalregulationsanddisclosureframeworks The logic is straightforward: if it is material, it must be measurable and defensible The burden of credibility nowrestssquarelyatthetop.
TurningComplianceintoCompetitiveAdvantage
Avoidinggreenwashingisnotonlyaboutmanagingrisk. It is also an opportunity to differentiate. Companies that treat ESG as a strategic priority, rather than a communications function, are better positioned to strengthen stakeholder trust and long-term resilience throughhonestinformation
Some leading firms are already aligning sustainability narratives with lifecycle data, peer benchmarks, and third-party validation. Others are updating disclosures regularly to reflect emerging expectations and risks. In today’s environment, trust is a tangible asset, and leading businesses are learning to move beyond slogans to communicate measurable, substantiated efforts, building a culture of openness that acknowledges shortfalls
TheIntegrityDividend
In Saudi Arabia, progress is visible in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, workforce localization, and digital innovation The task now is to communicate this progress accurately, without overstatementorselectiveframing.
Even well-intentioned firms may hesitate. “Greenhushing,” the decision to stay silent on sustainability progress for fear of backlash, is becoming more common Yet in a climate of increasing scrutiny, silence may be interpreted as uncertainty or lack of progress Visibility remains important, particularly for companies seeking to attract investment, customers, and partners
Support is available. For example, The Conference Board’s sustainability communications workshops help companies craft credible environmental claims by analyzing real-world case studies of both effective and problematic ESG messaging These sessions equip teams to identify greenwashing risks, and ensure that sustainability communications align with broader strategicgoals
Companiesshouldalsoconsider: Training cross-functional teams to recognize and addressgreenwashingrisks
Educating internal stakeholders on the legal and reputationalconsequencesofunsupportedclaims Implementing internal review processes that reflect rising expectations from regulators, investors, and thepublic
AChancetoLead
The global ESG landscape is evolving rapidly. Saudi Arabia does not need to play catch-up. It has an opportunity to lead, not just in ambition, but in accountability and execution. The firms that succeed in this next chapter will be those that communicate responsibly, act transparently, and ensure every claim is groundedinsubstance
“Be like the honey bee. Anything it eats is clean, anything it drops is sweet, and the branch it sits upon does not break.” –
Imam Ali (AS)
I
BEYOND BLACK FRIDAY: HOW CIRCULAR MINDSET INITIATIVES CAN
TheConsumptionDilemma
TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES
The air crackles with a peculiar kind of energy in late November Storefronts blaze with red and yellow banners, emails flood inboxes promising unprecedented discounts, and the collective consciousness seems to shift towards one singular goal: acquisition Black Friday, a tradition imported from across the globe, has firmly taken root in the GCC, mirroring the global surge in consumerism We see the familiar scenes: serpentine queues snaking through malls, online carts overflowing with discounted electronics and fashion, and a palpable sense of urgency to snag the best deals before they vanish. But beneath the surface of this annual shopping frenzy lies a critical question: at what cost does this relentless pursuit of new possessions come to ourplanetandourfuture?
Every discounted gadget, fast-fashion outfit, or impulse purchase carries an environmental footprint The trucks delivering new stock burn fuel, the factories consume resources, and the mountains of packaging and unused items eventually end upinourlandfills
The truth is, our linear “take–make–dispose” economy is unsustainable. And while technology, recycling, and regulations matter, the single most powerful driver of changeispeople’sbehavior.Ifwedon’trethinkhowandwhyweconsume,noamount ofinnovationwillbeenough.
Shiftingcommunitybehaviorisnotjustabouttellingpeopleto“buyless”It’saboutcreatingamindsetshift onewherewe value resources, see waste as a design flaw, and make smarter, more intentional choices In the GCC, the stakes are high We are experiencing rapid urban growth, increasing consumption rates, and ambitious environmental visions such as the Saudi GreenInitiative,UAENetZero2050,andQatarNationalVision2030.Butachievingthesevisionsisn’tjustaboutlarge-scale infrastructure; it’s about the choices each person makes every day.And here’s the truth: people respond better to inspiration than to guilt. If sustainability feels like a sacrifice, change is slow. But if it feels like a community movement exciting, rewarding,andculturallyrelevant changecanhappenfast.
ThePowerofPositiveInitiatives
Around the world, small but creative campaigns have reshaped how people consume Whether it’s repair cafés in Europe, clothing swaps inAustralia, or refill markets in Asia, the formula is the same: make sustainable choicessocial,accessible,andfun.
Instead of fighting consumer culture head-on, these initiatives redirect the energy of shopping and spending intoactivitiesthatbenefitbothpeopleandtheplanet CaseStudy:Sweden’sCircularMonday
One of the most inspiring examples comes from Sweden. In 2017, amidst the noise of Black Friday, a contrasting voice has emerged from Sweden: Circular Monday. Born as a conscious counter-movement, Circular Monday, which falls on the Monday before Black Friday, aims to inspire a shift towards more sustainable consumption patterns It’s not about abstaining from all purchases but rather about making informed choices, prioritizing durability, second-hand goods, repairs, and rental options over the allure of cheap,disposableproducts
The idea was simple yet powerful: instead of encouraging people to buy more, encourage them to buy better or not at all. On Circular Monday, companies, NGOs, and communities promote services like repairing,reusing,renting,orsharingproducts
From bicycle repair workshops to second-hand clothing pop-ups, from refurbished electronics offerings to toolsharing libraries, Circular Monday turned consumerism on its head Today, it’s grown into a global movement with participants in over 30 countries showing that peoplearereadyforalternatives.
WhytheGCCisReadyforItsOwnVersion
The principles of Circular Monday resonate deeply with the sustainability ambitions outlined in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the broader environmental consciousness growing within the GCC. While the cultural context and economic landscape of the region are unique, the underlying need for a more sustainable approachtoconsumptionisuniversal
Adapting the Circular Monday initiative to the GCC offers a tangible pathway for environmental activists, NGOs, and business owners to collaborate and drive meaningfulchange.
Environmental Activists and NGOs can play a crucial role in raising awareness about Circular Monday through local events, workshops, and social media campaigns They can educate consumers about the benefits of circular practices and highlight local businesses already embracing sustainability
Business Owners have a significant opportunity to lead the way by integrating circular principles into their operations. This could involve offering repair services, launching take-back schemes for old products, exploring product-as-a-service models, or promotingthesaleofrefurbishedorupcycleditems. Participating in Circular Monday by offering discounts on repairs or showcasing sustainable product lines can attract environmentally conscious customersandenhancetheirbrandimage
Consumers are the driving force behind this shift By consciously choosing to repair, reuse, buy second-hand, or rent on Circular Monday (and beyond), individuals can collectively send a powerful message to the market, signaling a demand for more sustainable options. Sharing these choices on social media can further amplify the messageandinspireotherstojointhemovement
Conclusion:BuildingaSustainableFutureTogether
Black Friday, with its emphasis on endless consumption, represents an outdated model that our planet can no longer sustain. Circular Monday offers a compelling and actionable alternative, a chance to rethink our relationship with goods and embrace a more responsible and regenerative future. By cultivating a circular mindset within the GCC, we can unlock significant environmental and economic benefits, aligning with national visions for a sustainable future Let us move beyond the fleeting gratification of Black Friday and collectively build a future where resources are valued, waste isminimized,andconsciousconsumptionpavesthewayforahealthierplanetforgenerationstocome
The change we need will not come from policies alone it will come from communities choosing to live differently If we can turn just one day of consumption into a celebration of sustainability, imagine what we could do with the rest of theyear.
“We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
Howard Zinn
BUILDING A GREENER FUTURE: THE NECESSITY OF SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Introduction
In an era marked by climate change, rapid urbanization, and the depletion of natural resources, the construction industry stands at a critical juncture The global push for sustainability has become a core priority, especially as buildings are responsible for about 39% of carbon emissions worldwide, with 28% stemming from operational energy use and the remaining 11% from embodied carbon in building materials (Global ABC, 2019).The construction industry, traditionally associated with high levels of energy consumption, material waste, and environmental degradation, must adapt to a new paradigm where sustainable construction practices are no longer optionalbutnecessary.
This article explores the importance of sustainable construction, outlining the environmental, economic, and social benefits, while presenting key principles and successful examples of implementation The construction industry’s evolution toward sustainability is essential for reducing environmental harm and ensuring long-term prosperityforboththeplanetandsociety
TheEnvironmentalImpactofTraditionalConstruction
Traditional construction practices have long been contributors to various forms of environmentaldegradation.Theenergyconsumptionrequiredtooperatebuildingsand produce construction materials is immense. Cement production alone accounts for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions, making the materials used in construction a major factor in the industry's environmental footprint (IEA, 2020). Furthermore, the use of non-renewable resources, such as steel, concrete, and fossil fuels, exacerbates resourcedepletion
Land degradation is another consequence of traditional construction Deforestation for timber, mining for raw materials, and the disruption of ecosystems due to large construction sites can lead to biodiversity loss and long-lasting environmental damage (IPCC, 2021). Additionally, construction projects often generate significant waste, with an estimated 30-40% of solid waste in developed countries coming from the constructionanddemolitionofbuildings(WorldGreenBuildingCouncil,2020).
These environmental impacts underscore the urgent need for a shift toward more sustainable construction practices that minimize resource use, waste production, and energyconsumptionwhileprotectingtheenvironment
The global construction industry’s rapid growth, especially in developing countries, makes the adoption ofsustainablepracticescritical.Sustainableconstruction isessentialforseveralkeyreasons:
ClimateChangeMitigation
The construction sector contributes heavily to global warming through its greenhouse gas emissions Sustainable construction focuses on reducing these emissions through energy-efficient design and the use of renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines By adopting practices that minimize carbon footprints, the construction industry can play a pivotal roleinmitigatingclimatechange(IPCC,2021).
ResourceConservation
Sustainable construction emphasizes the efficient use of resources, promoting materials that are renewable, recycled, or have a low environmental impact This approach not only conserves raw materials but also reduces the pressure on ecosystems (UNEP, 2019) Furthermore, designing buildings that use less water and energycontributestoresourcesustainability.
ImprovedPublicHealth
The design of sustainable buildings often includes nontoxic materials, better air quality, and increased access to natural light These factors contribute to healthier living and working environments Sustainable construction also reduces exposure to pollutants and harmfulchemicals,whichareoftenpresentintraditional buildingmaterials(Kibert,2016)
Long-termEconomicBenefits
Although the initial costs of sustainable construction may be higher, these buildings tend to deliver significant cost savings over time. Energy-efficient buildings lower utility bills, reduce maintenance costs, and have higher property values, making them an attractive investment for developers and property owners Additionally, they offer a better return on investment in the long run, with reduced operational costs and increased demand for green buildings (USGBC,2021).
CorePrinciplesofSustainableConstruction
Sustainable construction is based on a set of guiding principles that aim to reduce environmental harm while creating healthier, more efficient buildings These principles are applicable at all stages of the construction process, from design to demolition, and include the following:
EnergyEfficiency
Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of sustainable construction By incorporating passive design strategies, buildings can minimize energy use for heating, cooling, and lighting This includes features such as highperformance insulation, energy-efficient windows, and building orientation that maximizes natural light (RICS, 2020). Additionally, integrating renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal systems can further reduce a building's energyconsumption(Architecture2030,2020).
SustainableMaterials
The materials used in sustainable construction should have a low environmental impact throughout their life cycle This includes sourcing materials that are renewable, recycled, or sustainably harvested. For example, bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, is increasingly used as an alternative to traditional timber (World Green Building Council, 2020). Recycled materials such as steel or reclaimed wood reduce the need for virgin resources and the energy required for manufacturingnewmaterials
WaterConservation
Water conservation is another critical aspect of sustainable construction. Buildings can reduce water consumption through the use of low-flow fixtures, greywater recycling systems, and rainwater harvesting (World Green Building Council, 2020) . Landscaping with drought-resistant plants also minimizes the need for irrigation In regions where water is scarce, these strategiescansignificantlyreduceabuilding'simpacton localwaterresources
WasteReductionandRecycling
Sustainable construction aims to reduce the waste generated during building and demolition. This can be achieved by using prefabrication methods, which allow for more precise material use, and by designing buildings with adaptability and longevity in mind. Materials salvaged from deconstructed buildings can be reused or recycled, reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills (BREEAM, 2015) Circular economy principles where waste is repurposed as input for new construction also contribute to waste reduction (GlobalABC,2019)
LifeCycleConsideration
Sustainable buildings are designed with their entire life cycle in mind, from construction to operation and eventual demolition Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a tool used to assess the environmental impacts of a building throughout its existence, helping architects and builders make informed decisions about materials and design choices. By focusing on the building’s durability and adaptability, sustainable construction extends the useful life of buildings, reducing the need for future constructionprojects(RICS,2020)
SuccessfulExamplesofSustainableConstruction
Several high-profile projects around the world have successfully implemented sustainable construction practices, proving that sustainability can be achieved withoutcompromisingfunctionalityoraesthetics.
TheEdge,Amsterdam
Often cited as the "greenest building in the world," The Edge is an office building that exemplifies the potential of sustainable construction The building features a smart energy management system that adjusts heating, cooling, and lighting based on occupancy It generates more energy than it consumes through its rooftop solar panels and uses rainwater harvesting for non-potable waterneeds(BREEAM,2015).
OneCentralPark,Sydney
This residential and commercial complex integrates nature into the urban environment through its green walls and rooftop gardens These features not only provide insulation and absorb carbon dioxide but also enhance the quality of life for residents by creating a connection to nature. The building uses an on-site regeneration plant, which produces low-carbon energy for electricity, heating, and cooling (World Green BuildingCouncil,2020)
TheBullittCenter,Seattle
As one of the most energy-efficient commercial buildings in the world, the Bullitt Center operates completely off the grid, thanks to solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems It also features composting toilets, reducing its impact on the local water supply The building’s design emphasizes sustainability at every level, from construction materials toenergyuse(Kibert,2016).
The initial costs associated with sustainable construction are often higher than traditional methods, particularly when it comes to green technologies and renewable energy systems. However, the long-term savings on operational costs often outweigh these upfront expenses. Changing the mindset of developers and investors remains a key challenge (USGBC, 2021).
LackofAwarenessandEducation
In many regions, both developers and consumers have limited awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction Educational initiatives, industry training, and public campaigns are necessary to inform stakeholders about the long-term advantagesofgreenbuildings(UNEP,2019)
RegulatoryandPolicyBarriers
In some regions, outdated building codes and regulations do not incentivize or require sustainable practices. Governments can play a crucial role in encouraging sustainable construction through updated regulations, financial incentives,andthepromotionofgreenbuildingcertificationssuchasLEEDorBREEAM(GlobalABC,2019).
Conclusion
Building a greener future through sustainable construction is an urgent necessity as the world faces the realities of climate change and resource depletion The construction industry has a pivotal role to play in reducing environmental harm, conserving resources, and promoting healthier living environments By embracing principles of energy efficiency, sustainable materials, water conservation, and waste reduction, the industry can shift toward a more sustainable future Successful projects such as The Edge and the Bullitt Center demonstrate that sustainable construction is not only achievable but also profitable and beneficial in the long term. The path forward requires collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and consumers to overcome barriers and encourage widespread adoption. Sustainable construction is not just about reducing the environmental footprint of individual buildings it is about transforming the industryandensuringafuturewhereprogressandpreservationgohandinhand.
“SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS A FUNDAMENTAL BREAK THAT’S GOING TO RESHUFFLE THE ENTIRE DECK. THERE ARE COMPANIES TODAY THAT ARE GOING TO DOMINATE IN THE FUTURE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.”
Francois-Henri Pinault
TITLE: SCALING CIRCULAR ECONOMY VALUE CHAINS IN SAUDI ARABIA: FROM POLICY SIGNALS TO BANKABLE PROJECTS BY 2030
SaudiArabia stands at a critical juncture where ambitious environmental policies must transform into operational realities and measurable outcomes. The Kingdom's transition toward circular economy principles represents both a strategic necessity and an unprecedented opportunity to establish new revenue streams from the nation's substantial waste resources, while advancing Vision 2030sustainabilityobjectives
StrategicContextandMarketOpportunity
The circular economy paradigm fundamentally restructures traditional linear production models by designing out waste, maintaining material value, and regenerating natural systems (Alshamri & Alnefaee, 2025). For Saudi Arabia, this approach supports economic diversification while addressing escalating landfill dependency and resource import costs Almulhim and Al-Saidi (2023) demonstrate that integrated circular strategies could generate billions in cost savingsthroughenhancedresourceefficiencyacrosswater,energy,andmaterials sectors
Recent empirical evidence reveals substantial sector-specific benefits. Healthcare facilities implementing circular principles achieved 38% reductions in hazardous waste disposal while cutting operational costs (Alshamri & Alnefaee, 2025). Similarly, food industry applications show enhanced supply chain resilience to commodity price volatility (Al Sulami et al, 2024), supportingSaudifoodsecurityobjectives
The National Waste Management Center (NWMC) and Saudi Investment RecyclingCompany(SIRC)havereceivedstatutoryauthoritytostructurepublicprivate partnerships, establish landfill levies, and enforce extended producer responsibility schemes. These institutional mechanisms transform abstract policy targets into concrete revenue streams essential for project bankability (Al Sulami etal.,2024).
MarketSizingandInvestmentRequirements
Analysis of priority waste streams indicates substantial capital requirements and economic potential across four key sectors Municipal solid waste represents the largest opportunity at 50 million tonnes annually, requiring extensive material recovery facility networks and plastics reprocessing capacity Construction and demolition debris, at 28 million tonnes yearly, demands mobile crushing equipment and recycled aggregate production systems. Organic waste streams of 14 million tonnes present opportunities for anaerobic digestion and composting infrastructure. Industrial and hazardous waste, though smaller at 8 million tonnes, requires specialized treatment technologies and represents premium revenueopportunities(AlSulamietal,2024;Alshamri&Alnefaee,2025)
AboutAuthor:
Dr.RubheshJha, Founder of ClimateAction X, is a global senior executive with experience across Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, and Middle East. He holds a DBA from Spain, MBA from India, and BE from China. His research focuses on regenerative economic models, climate finance, and governance, with extensive publications on climate finance, clean energy and sustainability
Email: rubhesh.jha@climateactionx.com
Author:Dr.RubheshJha
RegulatoryArchitectureandEnablingEnvironment
Saudi Arabia's circular economy framework operates through three integrated governance layers Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative establish quantitative targets for waste diversion and recycling achievement by 2035. Regulatory instruments including extended producer responsibility, green procurement mandates, and secondary material quality standards create demand signals and revenue anchors. Institutional enablers through NWMC and SIRC coordinate planning, tendering, and partnership structuring to convert policy objectivesintotender-readyprojects
This institutional architecture has demonstrated measurable progress. Recent assessments indicate 87% of Vision 2030 initiatives remain on track, with 81% of key performance indicators meeting targets (Agility, 2024). The Saudi Green Initiative has facilitated connection of 2.8 gigawatts renewable energy capacity to the national grid, establishing precedent for largescaleinfrastructuredeployment
Sector-SpecificImplementationPathways
Municipal solid waste management benefits from centralized material recovery facilities combined with extended producer responsibility funding mechanisms. When secondary material markets experience volatility, minimum-price guarantees embedded within public-private partnership contracts preserve project cash flows (Al Sulami et al., 2024). Construction and demolition waste processing already meets Ministry of Transport specifications for roadway sub-base applications, though quality perceptions among contractors require standardization through Saudi Standards, Metrology andQualityOrganisationalignmentwithinternationalcodes
Organic waste processing in arid climates faces feedstock variability challenges. Co-digestion strategies combining sewage sludge with food waste stabilize biogas yields, as demonstrated in NEOM pilot facilities. Industrial and hazardous waste volumes remain modest but growing, with integrated treatment hubs positioned near industrial clusters reducingtransportcostsbyapproximately18%whilemeeting stringentemissionstandards(Alshamri&Alnefaee,2025)
Table1:BankabilityLeversbyValueChain
DigitalInfrastructureandPerformanceMetrics
Effective circular economy governance requires comprehensive data systems. QR-based product passports and blockchain-compatible waste tracking platforms support extended producer responsibility auditing while preventing illegal disposal practices Material Circularity Indicators complement traditional recycling metrics by capturing product durability and secondary input ratios, providing standardized measurement frameworks for corporate sustainability reporting.
Smart monitoring systems, automated segregation technologies, and artificial intelligence-driven waste sorting represent the most promising technological solutions for circular economy advancement, according to recent stakeholder assessments (Alshamri & Alnefaee, 2025) Current adoption rates remain limited, indicating significant investment and development opportunities within Saudi healthcare and industrial contexts.
ImplementationRoadmapandRiskManagement
The implementation pathway requires coordinated sequencing across regulatory, infrastructure, and market development phases. Regulatory finalization through secondary legislation on extended producer responsibility fees, landfill levies, and recycled content standards should complete by 2025 Pilot facility clusters in Riyadh, Jeddah, and NEOM will demonstrate integrated waste processing technologies and governancesystemsduring2026.
Bundled public-private partnership tenders with standardized risk allocation and sovereign guarantees follow during 2026-2027. Digital traceability mandates for packaging and construction materials deploy throughout2027,supportingcompliancemonitoringand pricing transparency National scaling occurs during 2028-2030, incorporating hazardous waste hubs and selectivewaste-to-energycommissioning
Risk mitigation strategies address four primary challenges. Feedstock volatility requires minimumtonnage guarantees and adaptive tariff schedules. Secondary material price risk necessitates floor-price agreements indexed to virgin material costs Technology performance risks demand reference-plant requirements and performance bonds protecting lenders Regulatory implementation delays require single-window permitting offices accelerating approvals while maintainingenvironmentalstandards.
FinancialArchitectureandCapitalMobilization
Revenue diversification across gate fees, extended producer responsibility collections, secondary material sales, and energy recovery creates resilient cash flow profiles. Sovereign guarantees and municipal partnerships provide credit enhancement for private investment attraction Carbon credit monetization and green procurement mandates offer additionalrevenuestreamssupportingprojecteconomics
Public-private partnership standardization reduces transaction costs and accelerates project development. Performance-based contracts with step-in rights protect public interests while maintaining private sector efficiency incentives. Blended finance mechanisms combining concessional capital with commercial investment address financinggapsinearly-stageprojectdevelopment
ConclusionandStrategicActions
Saudi Arabia possesses the policy foundation, institutional capacity, and technological readiness to establish a thriving circular economy market before 2030. Success requires disciplined execution across five critical areas. First, regulatory finalization through extended producer responsibility and landfill levy implementation creates revenue certainty. Second, standardized public-private partnerships with sovereign guarantees accelerate private capital deployment Third, recycled content procurement mandates across public infrastructure projects establish demand anchors Fourth, digital traceability deployment enhances compliance monitoring and investor confidence Fifth, capacity development programs build operational expertiseacrossregulators,operators,andfinanciers.
By executing this coordinated strategy, Saudi Arabia can transform waste liabilities into productive assets, achieve Saudi Green Initiative objectives, and establish regional leadership in circular economy implementation well ahead of 2030targets
References
Agility. (2024). Cultivating a green future: How Saudi Arabia is redefining sustainability in the Middle East. https://www.agility.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/KSA-WhitePaper-29Oct2024.pdf
Al Sulami, S.,Al Sulami, M., Nasr, J., & Sharawi, H. (2024). Circular Economy Analysis as a Tool to Enhance Sustainability of Supply ChainsinKingdomSaudiArabiaandaMeanstoAchieveSaudiVision 2030. Modern Economy, 15(5), 566-586. https://doi.org/10.4236/me.2024.155029
Almulhim, A. I., & Al-Saidi, M. (2023). Circular economy and the resource nexus: Realignment and progress towards sustainable development in Saudi Arabia. Environmental Development, 46, 100851.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2023.100851
Alshamri, O. M., & Alnefaee, S. M. (2025). Adopting circular economy models for healthcare waste management: Issues and prospects in SaudiArabia. International Journal of Financial Research, 16(2),44-60.https://doi.org/10.5430/ijfr.v16n2p44
“We
don’t have time to sit on our hands as our planet burns. For young people, climate change is bigger than election or re-election. It’s life or death.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, US Politician & Activist
URBANIZATION, WATER SCARCITY, AND
RESILIENCE: SAUDI ARABIA’S SUSTAINABILITY
CROSSROADS
Introduction
Saudi Arabia is at an important point in its sustainability journey. Rapid urban expansion, structural water scarcity, exposure to heat extremes, and economic diversification under Vision 2030 are converging to shape environmental and social outcomes for decades These overlapping pressures are best approached as a single systems opportunity that integrates urban design, water governance, biodiversity protection, renewable energy, circularity, and social equity This article provides insights from climate science, environmental health, and policy to outline practical directions for resilient development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
UrbanizationandClimateDynamics
Urbanization modifies local climates through changes in albedo, heat storage, and evapotranspiration Global analyses indicate that not accounting for land cover change can underestimate warming signals, particularly in arid regions where vegetation is sparse and evaporative cooling is limited (Duveiller et al, 2018;Liuetal.,2019;Zhouetal.,2019).
Given the scale of new urban projects such as NEOM, The Line, and Qiddiya, integrating climate feedbacks into planning is essential. Evidence suggests that higher tree canopy, cool or reflective materials, and water-efficient landscaping can reduce local heat by meaningful margins at the microclimate scale, which supports habitability and lowers cooling demand (Ouyang et al, 2022; IPCC, 2021) Including dynamic urban footprints in national climate modeling is expected to improve risk screening for extreme heat and inform resilient design standardsforstreetscapes,buildingenvelopes,andpublicspaces
WaterScarcityasaStructuralConstraint
Saudi Arabia has less than 100 cubic meters of renewable water per person per year, far below the 500 cubic meter absolute scarcity threshold that is widely used in international assessments (Falkenmark, 1989; UN Water, 2023; Ouda, 2014) A substantial share of supply comes from non-renewable aquifers, with desalination and treated wastewater providing critical complements in cities and industry(Alotaibietal,2023)
Climate projections from CMIP6 indicate that average surface temperatures across the Arabian Peninsula are expected to increase under intermediate scenarios, which is projected to raise evapotranspiration and reduce soil moisture, with implications for groundwater recharge and agriculture (Almazroui et al., 2021). Precipitation is also expected to become more variable, with fewer events of higher intensity, which can increase flood risk while limiting infiltrationbenefits(Alodah,2023)
Author:HassanAlzain
AuthorBio:
Hassan Alzain is an Environmental Sustainability Scientist at Saudi Aramco, currently pursuing graduate studies atYale University School of the Environment. His work focuses on climate change, environmental health, and resilient development in the Global South
Saudi Arabia has already taken strong measures by investing in desalination, wastewater reuse, and groundwater regulation Expanding low-emission desalination powered by renewables, promoting water efficiency in buildings and agriculture, and engaging in virtualwatertradeareexpectedtoremainkeystrategies.By aligning water security with clean energy development, the Kingdom demonstrates that environmental sustainability and technological innovation can advance together (IEA, 2021).
ClimateMitigationandtheTransitionEconomy
Global decarbonization is reshaping development strategies across all regions For SaudiArabia, this challenge is being transformed into an opportunity through Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, which emphasize clean technologies,renewableenergy,andsustainableindustries. TheKingdomisalreadybuildingcapacityinsolarandwind power, green hydrogen, and advanced materials that can support sustainable growth. International studies highlight that economies which diversify into clean technologies are expected to benefit from reduced long-term costs, higher innovation, and stronger global competitiveness (Stern, 2007;IEA,2021)
By investing in climate solutions, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a global contributor to sustainability, consistent with the priorities of the Global South: ensuring that development, energy access, and climate action advanceinparallel,notinconflict.
HumanHealthandHeatStress
Heat is a direct public health issue in the Gulf Human thermoregulation is known to break down when wet-bulb temperatures near 35 degrees Celsius persist, which indicates physiological limits under high heat and humidity (Sherwood & Huber, 2010).Aglobal assessment found that about 30 percent of the world’s population has already been exposed to potentially life threatening heat for at least 20 days per year, with the share projected to rise significantly by 2100 without strong mitigation and adaptation means on aninternationallevel(Moraetal,2017)
In Saudi Arabia, this has implications for outdoor labor, domestic energy demand for cooling, and emergency preparedness. Health-centered urban design that expands shaded corridors, cool roofs and pavements, tree canopy, public hydration points, and heat-alert protocols is expected to reduce exposure. Occupational safety standards, access to cooling for vulnerable groups, and health system readinessaresimilarlycentraltoresilienceplanning(WHO, 2022)
BiodiversityandEcosystemServices
Ecosystems deliver services that underpin resilience, including soil stabilization, water regulation, and carbon storage Research on fragile cryosphere environments illustrates how crossing ecological thresholds can trigger feedbacks that are difficult to reverse, with cascading effects on hydrology and greenhouse gas fluxes (Schuur & Mack,2018;Teufel&Sushama,2019).
Domestically, pressures include land degradation, desertification, and marine heat stress that threatens coral systems National commitments under the Saudi Green Initiative to expand protected areas and restore degraded lands can support biodiversity and climate outcomes, provided they are paired with monitoring, native species selection, and integration into urban and agricultural planning(Bouffardetal.,2021).
CircularEconomyandWaste
Municipal solid waste volumes in major Saudi cities are substantial, and per capita generation commonly exceeds one kilogram per day, with most waste historically directed to landfills (World Bank, 2022) Circular economy strategies can reduce emissions, improve material efficiency,andcreatejobs.
Priority actions include recycling construction and demolition waste from mega-projects, diverting organic waste to composting or bioenergy, and promoting industrial symbiosis where one facility’s by-product becomes another’s input Corporate practice reviews suggest that aligning circularity with supply chain management and product design significantly amplifies economic and environmental benefits (Kuzior et al, 2022) Clear standards, market incentives, and collection infrastructure arethefoundationsforscalingthesesolutions.
RenewableEnergyandNet-ZeroPathways
Saudi Arabia has some of the world’s strongest solar resources and meaningful onshore wind potential The national program to expand renewables is expected to lower local air pollution, diversify the power mix, and reduce the emissions intensityofdesalinationandindustry(IEA,2021)
Integrating high shares of variable renewables typically requires grid flexibility, storage, and demand response. Research on carbon dioxide removal emphasizes that durable storage will likely be necessary to neutralize residual emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, which suggests a portfolio that combines renewables with options such as geological sequestration and mineralization pathways (Brunner et al., 2024; Levy et al., 2024). Development of green hydrogen and synthetic fuels canalsopositiontheKingdomasaglobalpartnerinprovidingsustainableenergysolutions.
SocialSustainabilityandEquity
Sustainability outcomes depend on social inclusion Climate and environmental burdens tend to fall disproportionately on low-income households, outdoor workers, and those with limited access to cooling, clean water, or reliable transport Programs that engage communities in water conservation, neighborhood greening, waste reduction, and heat preparedness canincreaseuptakeandimproveequityoutcomes.
Youth engagement is particularly important in SaudiArabia, given the demographic structure and the innovation potential ofstudentsandearly-careerprofessionals.Embeddingequityintopolicydesignensuresthatbenefitsarewidelysharedand thatadaptationmeasuresreachthemostexposedpopulations
Conclusion
SaudiArabia’s sustainability crossroads is defined by the intersection of urban growth, water scarcity, climate adaptation, ecosystem pressures, and rising heat risks. The way forward is expected to be most effective when these challenges are addressedtogether.
Practical steps include climate-aware urban planning, low-emission water systems, diversified clean energy portfolios, protection and restoration of ecosystems, circular economy infrastructure, and health-centered resilience measures. By aligning science, investment, and social participation, the Kingdom can chart a path that strengthens well-being while contributingsolutionstoglobalsustainabilitychallenges
Alodah,A.(2023).ClimatevariabilityandwaterscarcityinSaudiArabia.ArabianJournalofGeosciences,16,112. Alotaibi, F., Masrahi,Y., and El-Rawy, M. (2023). Desalination, groundwater, and wastewater reuse in SaudiArabia’s water security strategy Water Policy, 25(3), 452–468.
Ouda,O.K.M.(2014).WaterdemandversussupplyinSaudiArabia,aforecastfor2025.InternationalJournalofWaterResourcesDevelopment,30(2),335–344. Ouyang,Y.,etal.(2022).Urbanalbedoeffectsandalternativematerials.RenewableandSustainableEnergyReviews,161,112379. Schuur, E.A. G., and Mack, M. C. (2018). Ecological response to permafrost thaw and consequences for global ecosystems. Ecological Monographs, 88(2), 114–136.
Energyisdirectlyandstronglyconnectedwiththedevelopmentofcountries,and if you think about a great country, it often comes to mind a country rich with energy.Furthermore,theenvironmentcanbedefinedinsimplewordsasthefood eaten, the water drunk, and the air breathed; in other words, the environment is the cage that surrounds humanity. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy andEnvironmentalDesign,whichisaninternationallyrecognizedgreenbuilding rating system. LEED-certified buildings are characterized by being highly performing, healthy, and cost-saving A survey done in the US showed that LEED projects led to 26% less energy usage, 27% higher levels of occupant satisfaction, 13% lower maintenance costs, and 33% lower emissions of carbon dioxide Statisticsshowthatover105,000LEEDprojectsarecertified;moreover, more than 1,800 projects are registered in KSA, and about 1,200 projects are awarded, which signifies that KSA has a bright present and a more promising futureinthefieldofgreenbuilding.
Strengths
KSA has one of the greatest and thriving economies in the world and is a member of the G20, and the KSA government shows a significant focus on sustainability Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 outlines the nation’s strategic plan for future economic and developmental progress, reflecting its long-term aspirations and objectives, and LEED projects three bottom lines (People, Planet, Profit) lie within the Vision 2030 outlines. Furthermore, the regulated frameworks in the construction sector (e.g., the Saudi Building Code) enhance the sector's capabilities to apply for LEED certification. The great renewable energy resources and high-tech energy sector are also strengths for conducting LEED projectsinKSA.
Weaknesses
The buzz toward sustainability and green buildings was not noticed in the far past; however, it has spread in the past few years, which might have led to a few local experts in the field. For the same reason, the availability of local materials and equipment used in green buildings, additionally, the local construction contractors have limited hands-on experience in the LEED projects. LEED’s international standards may not completely suit Saudi Arabia’s unique environmental context, including its harsh desert climate, limited water resources,etc.
The growing nature of the Saudi market in general, especially the boom in the construction sector and the planning for the mega projects, is a great opportunity for LEED projects On top of that, the governmental support for sustainability and the ambition of KSA Vision 2030 give a hand to sustainability projects Moreover,theSaudigovernmenthasinitiatedmanygreeninitiativesthatencourageindividualsandbusinesses toward sustainability. There is potential to create training courses, educational programs, and professional certification pathways through Saudi institutions. Also, the international investment growth in the Saudi projectsandthearrivalofmanyinternationalcompaniesaregreensignalsforLEEDprojects.
Threats
The initial cost (which includes upfront costs for certification, consultancy, and green materials) creates a serious threat to the LEED project parties, although the operational cost of the LEED-certified building is lower than that for non-green buildings Additionally, the time impact of the LEED projects raises a threat also because of the lack of knowledge in the field Finally, the lack of awareness can be considered the greatest threattotheLEEDprojectsinSaudiArabia.
Conclusion
The implementation of LEED projects in Saudi Arabia presents a promising pathway toward sustainable development,supportedbystronggovernmentinitiatives,abundantrenewableenergypotential,andincreasing market demand While challenges such as high upfront costs, limited local expertise, and material availability persist, these can be addressed through targeted education, improved supply chains, and regulatory alignment The country’s ambitious Vision 2030 and large-scale projects offer significant opportunities to expand green buildingpracticesandattractsustainableinvestments However,economicvolatility,inconsistentenforcement, and competition from other certification systems pose potential risks. To fully realize the benefits of LEED in Saudi Arabia, a coordinated effort among government, industry, and educational institutions is essential to overcomeweaknessesandmitigatethreats.
“It’s not that the world hasn’t had more carbon dioxide, it’s not that the world hasn’t been warmer. The problem is the speed at which things are changing. We are inducing a sixth mass extinction event kind of by accident and we don’t want to be the ‘extinctee.”
Bill Nye, 'The Science Guy'
DEVELOPING A SAUDI-BASED VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION ORGANIZATION FOR GHG EMISSIONS: A STRATEGIC MOVE FOR ACHIEVING CLIMATE GOALS
Introduction
SaudiArabia is at the forefront of ambitious sustainability efforts, driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative. These forward-looking initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, diversify the economy, and establish a greener, more sustainable future. Central to this vision is the Kingdom’s commitment to addressing climate change by adopting internationalstandardsandacceleratingthetransitiontoalow-carboneconomy.
However, despite its progress, Saudi Arabia faces a crucial gap in its climate infrastructure: the absence of a national Validation and Verification (V&V) body for GHG emissions Validation and verification are key to ensuring that sustainability efforts are both credible and measurable This article examines why establishing a Saudi-based V&V organization is vital to enhancing the Kingdom’s climate action, particularly in light of international frameworks such asArticle6.4oftheParisAgreement.
Validation and Verification (V&V) are foundational processes in the world of carbon markets and sustainability initiatives These processes serve as a mechanism for ensuring that emissions reduction projects meet specific criteria and actually deliver measurable environmental benefits A V&V body provides independent assurance that the claims made by businesses, governments, and other entities about their GHG reduction efforts are accurate, transparent, and alignedwithinternationalstandards.
The absence of such a body can lead to greenwashing, where organizations may exaggerate or misrepresent their environmental impact. For Saudi Arabia, developing a national V&V organization would ensure that the Kingdom’s climate actions including those under the Saudi Green Initiative are verifiable, impactful, and globally recognized This would help foster trust, enhance participation in international carbon markets, and ensure the credibility ofSaudiArabia’ssustainabilitygoals
Author:KAbdulSalam
Mr K Abdul Salam is the Founder & CEO of Smart Sustain Transformation Consultancies LLC (SSTC), with over 25 years of corporate experience in Risk Management, Strategy, Sustainability, and Governance Frameworks.Hehasbeenaleaderin restructuring SSTC to focus on Sustainability Consulting and Smart Transformation, significantly enhancing its regional presence Mr Abdul Salam holds numerous certifications, including Green Consultant, IRCA Lead Auditor, Energy Auditor, Technical Expert for UNFCCC NDC-2020, and has completedaMasterclassontheParis Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) and a DOE Calibration Workshop His leadership has driven SSTC’s growth in GHG Quantification, Circular Economy, and Validation & Verification, making him a key figure in the MiddleEast’ssustainabilitysector
CurrentLandscapeinSaudiArabia
Saudi Arabia has shown significant progress in its sustainability efforts through flagship projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and a major focus on renewable energy. These projects are aligned with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030, whichenvisionsagreenereconomyandasignificantreductioninGHGemissions.
However, the absence of a domestic V&V organization has hindered the ability to monitor, verify, and report emissions reductions consistently and independently Currently, Saudi projects rely on international third-party organizations to validate and verify their GHG emissions reductions While international organizations play an important role, this reliance presentsseveralchallenges:
Limited local expertise: The lack of a locally based V&V body limits SaudiArabia’s ability to build domestic capacity incarbonaccountingandsustainabilityauditing.
For Saudi Arabia to meet its climate goals and engage effectively in global carbon markets, establishing a national V&V bodyiscritical
Bydevelopinglocalexpertiseincarbonaccounting,emissionsauditing,andsustainabilityassessments,SaudiArabiawould be able to independently verify GHG reductions and ensure projects meet international standards. This will contribute to buildingaskilledworkforceintheKingdom,enhancingjobcreationinthegreeneconomy.
IncreasingCredibilityandTrust
A domestic V&V body would enhance the transparency of Saudi Arabia’s climate actions By independently verifying emissions reductions, Saudi Arabia can assure both local and international stakeholders that its climate commitments are genuine and measurable This would foster trust in the Kingdom’s climate projects and help attract investment from internationalcarbonmarkets.
FacilitatingIntegrationintoCarbonMarkets
Participation in international carbon markets requires rigorous verification to ensure that carbon credits are valid and meet international guidelines, such as those outlined in Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. Saudi Arabia’s national V&V body would enable the Kingdom to participate more effectively in these markets, issuing carbon credits for both domestic and internationaltrading
SupportingSaudiArabia’sNet-ZeroGoals
As part of its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, Saudi Arabia must track, measure, and verify its emissions reductions over time.Anational V&V organization would ensure that progress towards these targets is credible, transparent,andinlinewithinternationalbestpractices.
2. Collaboration is essential to create an effective V&V body. Involving government entities, industry experts, international certification bodies, and the private sector will ensure that the V&V body is tailored to Saudi Arabia’s needswhileadheringtoglobalbestpractices
3 BuildCapacityandExpertise
4 Establishing a V&V body requires qualified professionals who are well-versed in carbon accounting, verification standards, and sustainability frameworks My involvement in the Masterclass on the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) and DOE Calibration Workshops has equipped me with the knowledge and tools to design and implementtheseprocesseseffectively.Additionally,knowledgetransferprogramscanhelpbuildlocalexpertisethrough partnershipswithinternationalorganizations.
5.DevelopNationalStandardsandProtocols
6. The V&V body will need to create clear and robust standards for validating GHG reductions. These standards should align with internationally recognized frameworks such as ISO 14064 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, but also take intoaccountSaudiArabia’sspecificneedsandgoals
7 CreateaRegulatoryFramework
8 Awell-defined regulatory framework is crucial for granting theV&Vbody the necessary authority to approve projects, issuecarboncredits,andenforcecompliancewithsustainabilityregulations
Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to use carbon markets to achieve their climate targets through the generationofcarboncreditsfromcertifiedemissionsreductionprojects.SaudiArabia’sV&Vbodywouldplayapivotalrole inverifyingthesecarboncredits,ensuringthattheymeetthecriteriasetbytheParisAgreement. ByestablishingalocalV&Vbody,SaudiArabiawouldnotonlygaincredibilitywithininternationalcarbonmarketsbutalso contribute to the success of the global climate action framework TheV&Vbody would be the cornerstone for ensuring that the Kingdom’s carbon offset projects align with international standards, making SaudiArabia a key player in the transition toalow-carboneconomy
As the Founder & CEO of Smart SustainTransformation Consultancies LLC (SSTC), I bring over 25 years of experience in RiskManagement,Strategy,Sustainability,andGovernanceFrameworks.SSTChasbeenattheforefrontofdeliveringhighimpactprojectsinsustainabilityconsultingandsmarttransformation.
I have completed specialized training in GHG Quantification, Circular Economy,Validation &Verification, and participated in the Masterclass on PACM and the DOE Calibration Workshop These experiences have equipped me with the tools and knowledgetohelpSaudiArabiadeveloparobust,credible,andgloballyrecognizedV&Vbody
SSTC is ready to assist Saudi Arabia in the development of this critical institution, contributing to the Kingdom’s sustainabilitygoalsandenablingeffectiveparticipationinglobalcarbonmarkets
Conclusion
The establishment of a Saudi-basedValidation andVerification (V&V) body is essential for the Kingdom’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, participate in carbon markets, and achieve net-zero by 2060. By ensuring that GHG reductions are credible, measurable, and aligned with international standards, Saudi Arabia can lead the region in sustainable development AnationalV&VbodywillnotonlystrengthenSaudiArabia’sclimateactionbutalsoincreaseitscredibilityon theglobalstage,helpingtheKingdomachieveitsambitiousVision2030goals
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
THE SILENT REVOLUTION: REVERSE LOGISTICS AS A CATALYST FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Introduction
In the face of escalating environmental concerns, rapid urbanization, and burgeoning consumerism, effective waste management has emerged as a paramount global challenge. One groundbreaking strategy gaining significant traction in addressing this critical issue is reverse logistics. Traditionally, logistics has centered on the forward movement of goods from manufacturers to consumers.Reverselogistics,however,ingeniouslyflipsthismodelbymanaging the return flow of products, materials, and waste from consumers back to manufacturersordesignateddisposalentities Withinthecriticalcontextofwaste management, reverse logistics represents a strategic process that profoundly emphasizes sustainability, resource optimization, and environmental conservation
This article delves into the concept of reverse logistics in waste management, exploring its core principles, multifaceted benefits, inherent challenges, and promising future prospects. It highlights real-world applications and innovative strategies that organizations and governments can adopt to build a more sustainableandtrulycirculareconomy
UnderstandingReverseLogistics
Reverse logistics refers to the systematic process of moving goods from their final destination back through the supply chain to enable reuse, recycling, refurbishing, or proper disposal (Rogers & Tibben-Lembke, 1999). This comprehensive process encompasses diverse activities such as product returns, structured recycling programs, efficient waste collection, and the precise transportationofusedgoodsormaterials.
In the crucial realm of waste management, reverse logistics extends far beyond simply managing defective or returned products It encompasses a broad spectrum of materials, including packaging waste, electronic waste (e-waste), construction debris, expired products, and industrial by-products The primary objective is to strategically divert these materials from landfills and incineration by reintegrating them into the supply chain, thereby significantly reducing environmentalimpactandrobustlypromotingresourceefficiency.
Author: Mohammed Aktaruzzaman Hasan
ComponentsofReverseLogisticsinWasteManagement
Effective reverse logistics in waste management relies on severalinterconnectedcomponents:
1.Collection:Theinitialstepinvolvesefficientlygathering waste materials from diverse sources such as households, businesses, and industrial sites. The implementation of optimized and accessible collection systemsisvitalforensuringhighrecoveryrates
2 Sorting and Segregation: Once collected, waste must be meticulously sorted based on type, quality, and its potential for reuse or recycling This crucial step is fundamental for maximizing the value extracted from wastestreamsandminimizingcontamination.
3.Transportation: Specialized logistics networks are required to transport sorted materials efficiently to recycling centers, refurbishing units, or appropriate disposal sites. Innovative routing and fuel-efficient transportmethodsarekeyhere
4 Processing and Recycling: Waste materials undergo various processes to extract valuable raw materials or create new products This may involve mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments, transforming waste intousableinputs.
5.Redistribution: Recovered materials or meticulously refurbished products are reintroduced into the supply chain, either as valuable inputs for manufacturing new products or as high-quality second-hand goods. This closes the loop and minimizes the need for virgin resources
TheGlobalScaleofWasteGeneration
The challenge of waste is immense and growing. Globally, over 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) were generatedin2020(WorldBank,2020).(WorldBank,2020).
Applications of Innovative Reverse Logistics in Waste Management
Reverse logistics is not just a theoretical concept; it's actively transforming waste management across diverse sectors:
1.Electronic Waste (E-waste) Management: The exponential rise of consumer electronics has led to a critical e-waste challenge Reverse logistics facilitates the systematic collection, intricate dismantling, and specialized recycling of electronic products, recovering highly valuable materials like gold, silver, copper, and rare earth metals (United Nations University, 2024). Innovative processes like automated sorting and advanced material separation are enhancing recovery rates.
2.Retail and Consumer Goods: Many progressive retailers are implementing innovative take-back programs for packaging, plastic containers, and expired products These systems often utilize customer incentives and convenient drop-off points, ensuring these items are properly processed for reuse or recycling instead of beingdiscarded(Aronsson&Brodin,2020)
3.Construction and Demolition Waste: Reverse logistics plays a pivotal role in recovering vast quantities of materials such as concrete, wood, and metal from demolition sites for high-value reuse or recycling. This often involves on-site sorting and specialized transport, minimizinglandfilldependenceforconstructionwaste
4 Automotive Industry: The automotive sector employs sophisticated reverse logistics for used parts and end-oflife vehicles Components are collected, remanufactured, and resold, significantly reducing the demand for new raw materials, minimizing environmental degradation, and creating a robust secondarymarket(Kumar&Singh,2017).
5.Healthcare Sector: Reverse logistics in healthcare manages expired pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and other bio-hazardous materials This ensures safe disposal, prevents contamination, and, where possible, allows for the recycling or remanufacturing of medical devices,adheringtostrictregulatorystandards
BenefitsofReverseLogisticsinWasteManagement
The strategic implementation of reverse logistics offers a multitude of benefits, driving significant sustainability outcomes:
Environmental Conservation: By rigorously diverting waste from landfills and actively promoting recycling and reuse, reverse logistics substantially helps reduce pollution, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and preventhabitatdestruction(Govindanetal,2015)
Resource Efficiency: The systematic recovery and reuse of materials dramatically minimizes the need for virgin resources,leadingtosignificantenergyconservationand reducing the environmental impacts associated with extractionandprimaryprocessing.
Economic Opportunities: Reverse logistics inherently creates new business models and generates substantial job opportunities across various sectors, including waste collection, processing, recycling industries, and product remanufacturing(Guide&VanWassenhove,2009)
Compliance and Risk Mitigation: Organizations can effectively comply with stringent environmental regulations and proactively avoid costly penalties by managing waste responsibly through well-structured reverse logistics systems, enhancing corporate reputation.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Implementing sustainable waste practices through robust reverse logistics significantly enhances brand reputation, strengthens customer loyalty, and aligns with broader CSR goals, thereby attracting eco-conscious consumers andresponsibleinvestors
ChallengesinImplementingReverseLogistics
Despite its immense benefits, integrating and scaling reverse logisticssystemsfaceseveralnotablechallenges:
Infrastructure Limitations: Inadequate collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure, particularly in developing regions, can severely hinder the effectiveness and widespread adoption of reverse logisticssystems
High Costs: Establishing and maintaining comprehensive reverse logistics networks requires substantial upfront investment in specialized logistics, advanced technology, skilled manpower, and dedicated facilities.
Complex Supply Chains: Coordinating the intricate return flow of diverse materials across multiple stakeholders from consumers to various intermediaries and back to manufacturers is inherently complex and demandsrobustsystemsandintensecollaboration
Consumer Participation: The ultimate success of many reverse logistics initiatives critically depends on consumer awareness, willingness, and active participation in take-back and recycling programs. Lack ofconvenienceorincentivescanbesignificantbarriers. Regulatory Barriers: Inconsistent, fragmented, or unclear regulations regarding waste management, product take-back, and recycling across different jurisdictions can create confusion, increase compliance burdens,andstifleinnovation
Strategies to Enhance Innovative Reverse Logistics in WasteManagement
Overcoming these challenges requires a multi-faceted approachcenteredoninnovationandcollaboration:
Case Studies and Examples of Innovative Reverse Logistics
Real-world examples demonstrate the power of innovative reverselogistics:
1.Dell's Recycling Program: Dell has implemented a robust and global reverse logistics system for collecting and recycling used electronics Their innovative approach focuses on recovering valuable components, reducing e-waste, and even incorporating recycled plastics back into new products (Dell Technologies, 2024)
2.IKEA's Circular Business Model: IKEA has progressively introduced furniture take-back and refurbishment programs, alongside spare parts initiatives. This promotes the reuse of materials, extends product lifecycles, and shifts towards a more circular retail model, reducing consumption of virgin resources (IKEA,2023)
3 Japan's Home Appliance Recycling Law (HAIRL): This pioneering regulation mandates manufacturers to take back and recycle specific home appliances (eg, TVs, refrigerators), leading to impressively high recovery rates and highly efficient, manufacturer-driven reverse logistics operations (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,Japan,2024).
4.TerraCycle: A global leader in recycling traditionally "hard-to-recycle" materials, TerraCycle collaborates with numerous companies to establish innovative reverse logistics systems for diverse waste streams (eg, snack wrappers, personal care packaging) that conventional systems cannot handle, creating specializedclosed-loopsolutions(TerraCycle,2025).
TheFrameworkofReverseLogistics
The efficient functioning of reverse logistics in waste management can be conceptualized in a multi-level framework
References
Aronsson, H., & Brodin, B. (2020). Reverse logistics for packaging waste–aliteraturereview.LogisticsResearch,13(1),1–17.
Choi, T.-M. (2020). The blockchain-driven IoT for smart fashion manufacturing: A review Computers & Industrial Engineering, 147, 106654.
Figure 2: Multi-Level Framework of Reverse Logistics in Waste Management
Conclusion
Reverse logistics is fundamentally revolutionizing waste management by effectively transforming what was once considered a liability (waste) into a valuable resource It fosters a more sustainable, efficient, and responsible approach to consumption and production Despite the inherent complexities and challenges, the strategic integration of reverse logistics into modern waste management offers immense environmental, economic, and socialbenefits.Bycomprehensivelyembracingthisdynamic model, societies can move demonstrably closer to achieving ambitious zero-waste goals, proactively conserving invaluable natural resources, and diligently building a resilientandregenerativefuture
Dell Technologies. (2024). Dell Technologies 2024 Progress Made Real Report. Retrieved from [Insert Dell's sustainability report URL here,ifpubliclyavailableandcurrent].
European Commission. (2018). Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste. Official Journal of the European Union.
Govindan, K., Soleimani, H., & Kannan, D. (2015). Reverse logistics and closed-loop supply chain:Acomprehensive review to explore the future.EuropeanJournalofOperationalResearch,240(3),603–626. Grant, D. B., Lambert, R., & Stock, J. R. (2021). Reverse logistics andclosedloopsupplychains.Routledge.
Guide, V D. R., Jr., & Van Wassenhove, L. N. (2009). The reverse supplychain.HarvardBusinessReview,87(2),63–73.
IKEA. (2023). IKEA Sustainability Report FY23. Retrieved from [Insert IKEA's sustainability report URL here, if publicly available andcurrent].
Kumar, S., & Singh, R. K. (2017). A review of reverse logistics in automotiveindustry.JournalofCleanerProduction,142,2452–2463. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan. (2024). Home Appliance Recycling Law Retrieved from [Insert relevant official Japanese government URL for the law, if publicly available and current].
Rogers, D. S., & Tibben-Lembke, R. S. (1999). Going backwards: Reverse logistics trends and practices. Reverse Logistics Executive Council.
TerraCycle. (2025). About TerraCycle. Retrieved from [Insert TerraCycle's official "About Us" or relevant URL here, if publicly availableandcurrent].
United Nations University (2024). Global E-waste Monitor Retrieved from [Insert UNU E-waste Monitor URL, if publicly availableandcurrent].
World Bank. (2020). What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. The World Bank. doi:10.1596/978-14648-1329-0
“One thing leads to the other. Deforestation leads to climate change, which leads to ecosystem losses, which negatively impacts our livelihoods – it’s a vicious cycle.”
Gisele Bundchen
INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND BLOCKCHAIN IN SAUDI ARABIA’S WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
1.Introduction
The water scarcity level in SaudiArabia reaches extreme levels since the nation possesses only 0.1 percent of the world's renewable freshwater resources (Food andAgricultureOrganization,2021).TheSaudiWaterAuthorityreportsthateach resident uses 250 L/day of water yet this exceeds the worldwide average of 173 L/day (Saudi Water Authority, 2022). The combination of urban expansion and industrial development and agricultural operations results in non-revenue water losses that reach as high as 30 percent across certain areas (World Bank, 2024) This paper examines the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain to transform Saudi Arabian water governance by implementing real-time monitoring systems and ensuring data security and stakeholder trust which supportsVision2030sustainabilitytargets
2.TheoreticalFramework
The Integrated Water Resources Management framework promotes sectoral coordinationthroughacombinationofsocialequityandeconomicefficiencyand environmental protection practices (Global Water Partnership, 2018) The traditional implementation of IWRM in arid regions experiences problems with: Fragmented Data: Disparate databases and manual reporting lead to inconsistencies and delayed decision-making (Almutairi, 2023) Real-Time monitoringsystemsfailtodetectleaksandassesswaterqualitybeforesignificant losses occur. Weak Accountability: Centralized control and opaque billing practices erode stakeholder trust.AI enables predictive analytics such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks that forecast demand peaks and detect anomalies, while blockchain’s decentralized ledger provides immutable transaction records. Through their integration they fill the operational holes in IWRM by guaranteeing data precision and transparent enforcement of managementregulations
Author: MeshalAlmutairi,PhD
Meshal Almutairi is a PhD candidate at Cardiff University, specializing in AI-driven water management and blockchain-based dataintegritysolutions.
References
Almutairi,A.(2023).AdvancedWaterManagementTechniques.Riyadh:WaterResearchJournal. Chawla, N. V., Gupta, S., & Kumar, V (2022). “Anomaly Detection in Water Networks Using Isolation Forests.”JournalofWaterEngineering,10(2),117–130. FoodandAgricultureOrganization.(2021).AQUASTATCountryProfile–SaudiArabia.Rome:FAO. GlobalWaterPartnership.(2018).IntegratedWaterResourcesManagement:TechnicalBrief.Stockholm:GWP NEOM Water Project Report. (2025). Digital Water Governance Pilot Results. NEOM Global Sustainability Initiative. SaudiWaterAuthority.(2022).AnnualWaterConsumptionReport.Riyadh:SWA. Smith, J., & Lee, M. (2021). “Blockchain for Transparent Resource Management.” International Journal of Technology,15(4),233–248. WorldBank.(2024).SmartWaterSystemsInvestmentEstimates.Washington,DC:WorldBank.
3.Methodology
The proposed framework consists of three integrated components:
Sensor Network Deployment Hardware: IoT-enabled flow, pressure, and quality sensors installed across pumping stations, treatment plants, and distribution mains. Data Frequency: Measurements recorded every 5minutes,transmittedviasecureMQTTprotocols.
AI-Driven Analytics Models: LSTM for demand forecasting; Isolation Forests for leak detection based on pressure anomalies (Chawla et al, 2022) Training Data: Historical usage records (2018–2024) supplemented by meteorological variables (temperature, humidity). Outputs: Real-time alerts are triggered when the predicted flow amounts exceed actual flow values by more than 10 percent. Monthly demandforecastswith95percentconfidenceintervals.
Blockchain Integration Platform: Permissioned Hyperledger Fabric network maintained by the Saudi Water Authority and partnered municipalities Smart Contracts: Maintenance Contracts: Automatically authorize repair crews when anomalies are confirmed The billing system calculates consumer invoices through a combination of validated meter readings and predefined tariff regulations. Audit Trail: Every transaction including sensor data hashes is timestamped and viewable by authorized stakeholders, preventingdatatampering.
4.CaseStudy:NEOMPilotProject
The NEOM Water Management Division supported a sixmonth trial within Tabuk Province which took place during 2024–2025. The pilot study produced the following main outcomes: Sensor Coverage: 60 sensors over 30 km of distribution network. Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Reduction: From 28 percent to 11 percent a 17 pp drop (NEOM Project Report, 2025). The time it takes to detect leaks before repair teams arrive has decreased to 6 hours from its previous 48-hour duration The AI models demonstrated weekly demand prediction accuracy through a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 48 percent Economic Impact: Pilot CAPEX was USD 26 million; OPEX savings of USD 0.9 million/year projected payback in 3.7 years. Municipal managers demonstrated 92 percent satisfaction because they saw value in the blockchain audit trail which improved inter-agency coordination according tostakeholdersurveys..
5.Discussion
The combination of AI with blockchain technology produces various beneficial outcomes The implementation of transparent records builds trust among government bodies and non-governmental organizations and community members (Smith & Lee, 2021). Operational Efficiency: Predictive maintenance cuts emergency dispatches by nearly one-third, reducing labor and downtime costs Environmental Impact: Lower water losses translate into reduced energy use for pumping and treatment estimated 14 percent CO₂ reduction over 10 years However, significant challenges must be addressed: High Initial Investment: Sensor installation, AI development, and blockchain infrastructure require substantial funding (World Bank, 2024). Technical Capacity: Skilled personnel are necessary to manage ML pipelines and maintain distributed ledger networks. Regulatory Harmonization: National standards for IoT interoperability, data privacy, and smart contract legality are still nascent The barriers can be addressed through collaboration among multiple stakeholders who will conduct capacity-building programs at universities and technical institutes as well as support public–private partnerships to implement pilot-to-scale frameworks.
6.Conclusion
ImplementingAI and blockchain technologies in Saudi Arabia's water management systems creates an effective solution to overcome the traditional IWRM restrictions The NEOM pilot shows significant achievements through its reduction of losses as well as its improved forecasting abilities and enhanced stakeholder contentment. The Kingdom needs to implement the following steps to scale these benefits across the entire nation: Develop National Standards: For sensor interfaces, data schemas, and smart contract templates The expansion of pilot zones should focus on both agricultural irrigation systems and peri-urban network areas Invest in Training: Embed AI and blockchain modules in engineering and public policy curricula. Foster Partnerships: Leverage private sector innovation through risk-sharing investment models. Saudi Arabia will establish a worldwide standard for sustainable water governance in dry areas when it connects technology implementation with policy changesandtrainingdevelopment.
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.”
Mahatma Gandhi
JAMAICAN CHERRY (MUNTINGIA CALABURA) FOR THE RED SEA REGION OF SAUDI ARABIA:
A POTENTIAL NATURE BASED SOLUTION FOR ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY AND AVITOURISM.
AGreenVisionfortheRedSeaCoast
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is more than a scenic wonder it is a critical ecological corridor for migratory birds along the Rift Valley/Red Sea Flyway, recognized as the world’s second-most important migration route. This corridor supports a remarkable diversity of avian life: the Kingdom hosts around 550 bird species, including 27 globally Endangered species ((SPA), 2024), such as the turtle dove and houbara bustard, as reported by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in 2024 Of these, 280 are migratory species, while 219 species breed within the Kingdom, and 51 are classified as stray birds (AlThaqaf,2020),(BirdLifeInternational,2022)
However, migratory birds face mounting challenges along this flyway, including habitat loss and fragmentation specially due to climate change, altered foraging opportunities, hunting, collisions with infrastructure such as wind turbines and power lines, exposure to harmful chemicals, and entanglement in debris ((GEF), 2022). Protecting and enhancing vegetation along this corridor is critical not only to sustain bird populations but also to increase ecosystem productivity, expandgreencover,andsupportbiodiversityataregionalscale
A promising approach is the trial plantation of Muntingia calabura, commonly known as the Indian Cherry or Jamaican Cherry This tropical fruit tree has proven potential as a nature-based solution for enhancing biodiversity especially avian frugivores, improving ecosystem productivity and promoting bird-focused tourism.
Muntingia calabura is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree that begins fruiting within 1–2 years Native to tropical America but now widely naturalized across Asia, it is valued for its adaptability to diverse climates and soil conditions The tree demonstrates exceptional growth, averaging one to two meters annually, and reaches a mature height of six to ten meters Unlike many slow-growing reforestation species, Indian Cherry begins bearing fruit within one to two years ofplanting,offeringearlyecologicalbenefits.
The warm climate of Saudi Arabia, especially along the coastal Red Sea areas, provides an ideal environment for the growth of Jamaica Cherry. With temperatures ranging from 27°C to 38°C, the coastal region could be aligning withthetree’soptimaltemperaturerangewiththeneedfuladditionaltreecares
Author: MohamedFirnas
Environmental and Sustainability Professional. B. Sc. (Hons) in Green Technology. University of Ruhuna,SriLanka.
Notable qualities of “Muntingia calabura” that make it suitablefortrials
1 Provides year-round fruit, ensuring a steady food sourceforfrugivorousbirds.
2.Fast-growing, fruiting within 1–2 years for quick ecologicalimpact.
3.Produces small, sweet, nutrient-rich fruits that attract diversebirdspecies.
4.Bright red fruits visually appeal to wildlife, encouragingfrequentvisits
5 Thrives in arid, well-drained soils, tolerating drought andharshconditions
Flowers attract bees, boosting pollination and supporting nearbyecosystems
Dr.YCWee,arenownedgreenadvocateinSingapore,was the founding president of the Nature Society (Singapore). Hehasservedonkeyenvironmentalcommittees,including the Nature Reserves Committee and National Council on the Environment He also founded the Bird Ecology Study Group, a leading platform for bird research in the region In one of his articles, Dr Wee discusses the Jamaincan cherry tree a species introduced from tropical America in the19thcenturyandnownaturalizedthroughoutSoutheast Asia, attracts various bird species due to its year-round fruiting, providing an important food source, particularly in urban areas where other resources may be scarce. Dr. Wee highlights the significant ecological role of this tree, noting that birds and bats are the primary agents of its spread While the tree's presence in busy urban areas may be met with resistance due to the mess caused by bird droppings, it offers a valuable contribution to urban bird conservationandbiodiversity(Wee,2011)
ASafe,ManagedSolutionforProactiveGreening
Introducing non-native species requires careful planning. Jamaican Cherry, however, is unlikely to become invasive in Kingdom’s arid environment. Its growth depends on strategic planning, irrigation and maintenance, minimizing uncontrolled spread By planting in managed patches, urban green spaces, and protected corridors, it can safely enhance biodiversity, expand green cover, and improve ecosystemproductivity
Even though we predict that this beneficial exotic tree will not become harmful or invasive, it is highly recommended that Saudi universities and relevant authorities conduct dedicated studies. Such research would assess its ecological impacts and practical viability, paving the way for large-scale implementation along the Saudi coast as a valuable nature-based solution for biodiversity and ecosystemservices
Increasing frugivore populations through Jamaican Cherry plantations not only improves seed dispersal but also strengthens a natural feedback loop: more birds attract more seed dispersal, which increases green cover, creating proactive greeningactivityacrossregionswhereafforestationisdifficult.
PromotingVegetation&SustainableAgriculture
Jamaican Cherry will also benefit for regional agriculture. Its flowers attract bees year-round, enhancing pollination and increasing productivity in nearby crops This dual ecological functionconnectswildlifeconservationwithhumanbenefits: Pollination Benefits: Increased bee populations boost crop yieldsandsupportlocalfoodsecurity
Enhanced Seed Dispersal: Birds spread seeds naturally, expandinggreencoverandimprovinglandscapeproductivity. By supporting both frugivores and pollinators, Jamaican Cherry strengthens the region’s ecological networks while contributing directlytosustainableagriculture
ClimateResilienceandBird-FocusedTourism
Planting Jamaican Cherry enhances climate resilience by providing continuous food and shelter for both migratory and resident birds, making landscapes more wildlife-friendly and ecologically productive. The ecological benefits of these plantations go hand-in-hand with opportunities for bird-focused tourism along the Red Sea coast. The global birdwatching tourism market, valued at $62.73 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a 6.2% CAGR from 2024 to 2030, reflecting a risingglobalinterestinavitourism.IntheU.S.alone,96millionpeopleengagedinbird-relatedactivitiesin2022,morethan doubling from 2016. This trend highlights the strong economic potential of in international birdwatching tourism, which benefits local economies through guided tours, accommodations and conservation-focused experiences (GVR, 2023). Flourishing regions where abundant fruiting trees attract diverse bird species Year-round fruit availability ensures that both migratory and resident birds are consistently present, creating reliable and vibrant habitats that draw tourists, researchers, andwildlifeenthusiasts
Arrival of these fruit-eating birds were observed in this region according to the eBird database which is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology We can expect an increase in the arrival of these bird species in the region due to the availabilityofplentifulfruitsfromMuntingiacalabura
AForward-LookingVision
The trial plantation of Jamaican Cherry along SaudiArabia’s Red Sea coast will represent a holistic, nature-based strategy for enhancing biodiversity and increasing ecosystem productivity, supporting birds and pollinators and promoting sustainable tourism. Carefully managed plantations create self-reinforcing ecological networks, where frugivores, pollinatorsandseeddispersalworktogethertorestorelandscapesandenhancegreencoveracrosstheregion
Supporting birds, bees, agriculture, Jamaican Cherry demonstrates how a single tropical tree can transform ecosystems, boost productivity and enrich avian tourism opportunities This article serves as an encouragement for researchers, sustainability experts, and conservationists to pursue further scientific studies and advance this strategic, project-based initiative. With research, planning, and management, the Jamaican Cherry could become a pioneering, low-cost naturebased solution on the Red Sea coast, modeling biodiversity enhancement, ecosystem productivity and sustainable development.
References (GEF), G. E. (2022). Creating safe passage for soaring birds in the Middle East. Retrieved from www.thegef.org: https://www.thegef.org/newsroom/feature-stories/creating-safe-passage-soaring-birds-middle-east (SPA), T S. (2024). Saudi Arabia Hosts 550 Species of Birds, 27 Globally Endangered. Retrieved from www.spa.gov.sa: https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2187164
Al-Thaqaf, T (2020, September 04). 500 million birds migrate through Saudi Arabia every year Retrieved from https://www.arabnews.com/: https://www.arabnews.com/node/1729276/saudi-arabia
BirdLife International. (2022, October). Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Mainstream Migratory Soaring Birds Safeguards. Retrieved from https://www.thegef.org/:https://www.thegef.org/sites/default/files/documents/2022-11/GEF_GPB_MENA_Africa_Birds_2022_11_1.pdf GVR.(2024).BirdwatchingTourismMarketSize,Share&TrendsAnalysisReportByTravelerType(HardCoreBirders,EnthusiasticBirders),By AgeGroup,ByGroup,ByRegion,AndSegmentForecasts,2024-2030.California:GrandViewResearch. Wee, D. Y (2011, September 23). Birds and the Indian cherry tree (Muntingia calabura). Retrieved from The Bird Ecology Study Group (besgroup.org):https://besgroup.org/2011/09/23/birds-and-the-indian-cherry-tree-muntingia-calabura/
GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SAUDI ARABIA
GreenandSustainableEntrepreneurshipinSaudiArabia
Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation that places sustainability and innovation at the heart of its development vision Through Vision 2030 and initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, the Kingdom is positioning itself as a global leader in environmental responsibility, renewable energy, and sustainable economic diversification. In this context, green and sustainable entrepreneurship is emerging as one of the most dynamic drivers of change. By encouraging entrepreneurs to develop ecofriendly solutions, SaudiArabia is building new industries that balance economic progresswithecologicalprotectionandsocialwell-being.
UnderstandingGreenandSustainableEntrepreneurship
Green entrepreneurship refers to the creation of businesses that minimize environmental harm, conserve resources, and promote renewable or low-impact alternatives. Sustainable entrepreneurship expands this vision by embracing the triple bottom line economic viability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. These concepts are reinforced by the circular economy model, which emphasizes reducing waste, reusing materials, and creating closed-loop systems. For Saudi entrepreneurs, this approach is not only about profit, but aboutredefiningvaluecreationforthefuture.
ObjectivesandImportance
The objectives of green and sustainable entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia are closelyalignedwithnationalstrategies:
Economic diversification beyond oil by building industries in clean energy, eco-tourism,agriculture,andsustainabletechnology.
Environmental protection, including reducing carbon emissions, conserving biodiversity,andcombatingdesertification.
Job creation for Saudi youth, particularly in knowledge-intensive and technology-drivenfields
Global competitiveness by positioning SaudiArabia as a hub for sustainable solutionsintheMiddleEast
Community well-being, as sustainable businesses contribute to healthier lifestyles,strongerlocaleconomies,andimprovedqualityoflife
The importance of this movement cannot be overstated. It addresses global climate challenges while protecting the Kingdom from the volatility of oil markets. It strengthens Saudi Arabia’s ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and impact-driven capital, while also empowering its young and ambitious populationtoinnovateinwaysthatalignwithfutureeconomictrends
Author: MOHAMMEDAHMED MOHAMMEDADAM
The
Most Prominent Fields of Green and Sustainable
Entrepreneurship
RenewableEnergy
Saudi Arabia is blessed with abundant solar and wind resources, making renewable energy the backbone of its green transition. Projects like the Sakaka Solar Plant and the upcomingAl Shuaibah Solar Project demonstrate the Kingdom’s commitment to scaling up clean power. For entrepreneurs, opportunities exist in developing solar panel technologies, energy storage solutions, and decentralized clean power systems for communities and businesses Startups can also explore green hydrogen production, which SaudiArabia is prioritizing as a future exportindustry
SustainableTourismandHospitality
Mega-projects like NEOM, Amaala, and the Red Sea Project are global showcases for sustainable tourism. They emphasize eco-friendly construction, conservation of marine and desert ecosystems, and renewable energypowered resorts Entrepreneurs have opportunities in eco-lodging, sustainable transport, cultural tourism, and digital platforms promoting responsible travel With Saudi Arabia opening its doors to international tourists, sustainable tourism is becoming one of the most promisingfields.
GreenConstructionandSmartCities
Construction is one of the highest contributors to carbon emissions worldwide, but Saudi Arabia is reshaping this sector through green building standards and smart city development NEOM, in particular, is envisioned as a zero-carbon city, integrating renewable energy, smart grids, and sustainable architecture Entrepreneurs can contribute through eco-friendly building materials, energy-efficient cooling systems, water-saving technologies,andsmartinfrastructuresolutions.
Agri-TechandSustainableFoodProduction
Waterscarcityandfoodsecurityarepressingissuesinthe Kingdom Innovative agri-tech solutions such as hydroponics, vertical farming, and precision agriculture are gaining momentum Entrepreneurs can also explore organic farming, sustainable fisheries, and technologydriven solutions for reducing food waste. These innovations not only enhance local food security but also reducetheKingdom’srelianceonimports.
WasteManagementandCircularEconomy
As SaudiArabia’s urban centers expand, managing waste sustainably has become a priority The Kingdom aims to recycle 94% of waste by 2035 This creates space for entrepreneurs in recycling technologies, upcycling industries, waste-to-energy projects, and e-waste management. Circular economy startups are also exploring innovative business models, such as turning plasticwasteintobuildingmaterialsororganicwasteinto biofertilizers.
GreenFinanceandESGInvestment
Financial institutions in Saudi Arabia are beginning to adopt environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles This opens opportunities for green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and impact investment funds that support eco-friendly startups. Entrepreneurs in fintech and sustainable finance platforms can play a role in channeling capital toward green businesses, while ensuring transparency and accountability in ESG reporting
OpportunitiesandChallenges
The opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s green economy are vast: abundant natural resources, supportive megaprojects, rising global interest in sustainability, and a young, tech-savvy population. However, challenges remain. These include high initial investment costs for green technologies, limited consumer awareness, skill gaps in specialized areas like renewable energy engineering, and regulatory frameworks that are still evolving Moreover, global competition from established internationalfirmscanmakeitharderforlocalstartupsto scalequickly
RecommendationsforAcceleratingGrowth
To unlock the full potential of green and sustainable entrepreneurship,severalstepsareessential:
Policy and regulatory support: stronger incentives, simplified licensing, and clear sustainability standards.
Capacity building: investment in education and vocational training to equip youth with specialized skills
Collaboration: partnerships between government, academia,andprivatesectortodriveinnovation.
Awareness campaigns: initiatives to shift consumer behaviortowardsustainablelifestyles
Technology transfer and R&D: building local innovationwhileleveraginginternationalexpertise
Conclusion
Green and sustainable entrepreneurship represents one of the most promising avenues for Saudi Arabia’s future. It offers solutions to pressing environmental challenges, reduces dependence on oil, and empowers a new generation of innovators to shape industries of the future With strong government commitment, visionary megaprojects, and increasing global investment, the Kingdom is poised to become a regional leader in sustainability and green innovation By addressing current challenges with supportive policies, education, and financial mechanisms, Saudi Arabia can transform its entrepreneurial ecosystem into a cornerstone of longterm prosperity one that benefits not only its economy butalsoitspeopleandtheplanet.
THE ESG IMPACT OF JUNK [E] MAILS
The pervasive and often overlooked contributor to our global environmental footprint hides in plain sight: junk mail This isn’t just a minor annoyance filling our mailboxes and inboxes; it represents a significant drain on natural resources andasubstantialsourceofgreenhousegasemissions
The pervasive nature of unsolicited mail, both physical and digital, demands attention as we strive for a more sustainable future. Let’s delve into the ofteninvisibleESGimplicationsofthiseverydayphenomenon.
The glossy flyers, unsolicited catalogues, and promotional letters that arrive at our doors carry a far heavier cost than their immediate perceived value Their journeyfromproductiontodisposalleavesatrailofenvironmentaldegradation Deforestation at Scale: The sheer volume of paper required is staggering In the US alone, over 100 million trees are cut down each year to produce junk mail This directly contributes to global deforestation, a critical issue responsible for nearly 20% of all carbon emissions. Our forests, vital carbon sinks and biodiversityhotspots,arebeingsacrificedforunsolicitedadvertisements.
A Mountain of Emissions: The entire lifecycle of physical junk mail – from the energy-intensive processes of pulping, bleaching, and drying paper, to the printing, and the vast transportation networks required for distribution –generates immense greenhouse gases Annually, this amounts to over 51 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, a figure equivalent to the emissions from 9 million passenger cars This undeniable contribution to global warming cannot beignored
Landfill Crisis and Methane Menace: What happens to all this paper once it’s read (or more often, barely glanced at)?Astaggering 60% of all junk mail ends up in landfills without being recycled, adding a billion pounds of waste each year. As this paper decomposes anaerobically, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide This amplifies the climateimpactbeyondinitialproductionemissions
Thirsty Production: Paper manufacturing is notoriously water-intensive The energy required to process and clean water, and the volume consumed in the pulping and bleaching stages, is immense. To put it in perspective, recycling just one tonne of paper can save 7,000 gallons of water. The waste generated from non-recycledjunkmailexacerbateswaterstressinmanyregions.
Author: MuayaedQasim
The Invisible Drain: The Digital Footprint of Email Spam
In our increasingly digital world, the notion of “paperless” communication often implies environmental superiority However, email spam, the digital counterpart to physical junk mail, presents its own formidable environmental challenge While it doesn’t involve trees or landfills directly, its energy consumption through vast digitalinfrastructuresissignificant:
A Deluge of Data: The sheer volume of spam emails is mind-boggling.While figures fluctuate, an estimated 162 billion spam emails are sent every single day globally as of 2023, representing over 46.8% of all email traffic in December 2023 Each of these emails, no matter how small, requires energy to be sent, received, stored, and processed
Every Gram Counts: The carbon footprint of an average spam email is estimated at around 0.3 grams of CO2e. While this might seem minuscule for a single message, the colossal volume multiplies this into a truly alarming figure.
ANation's Worth of Emissions: In 2021, the total annual worldwide carbon footprint of spam email was estimated at 2967 trillion grams of CO2e (2967 million metric tons) To contextualize this, if spam emails were a country, their annual emissions would surpass those of nations like Denmark or the Dominican Republic. This highlightstheglobalscaleofthisdigitalpollution.
Powering the Unwanted:The energy consumption linked to email spam is substantial. Globally, annual spam energy use totals approximately 33 billion kilowatt-hours (KWh) or 33 terawatt-hours (TWh) This is equivalent to the electricity consumed by 24 million homes in the UnitedStates,generatingthesameGHGemissionsas31 millionpassengercarsusing2billiongallonsofgasoline
The Data Center Demand:The lion’s share of this energy consumption stems from data centers. These colossal facilities, housing the servers that store, process, and transmit every single email – including billions of spam messages – require immense amounts of electricity for operation and, critically, for cooling A significant portion of this energy is still derived from fossil fuels, perpetuatingourrelianceoncarbon-intensivesources
User Engagement (and Energy): Interestingly, a substantial portion of the energy consumed by spam (around 52%) is attributed to end-users. This includes the energy expended in manually sorting, viewing, and deleting unwanted emails, as well as the frustrating process of searching for legitimate messages that might have been incorrectly flagged as spam (false positives) Even spam filtering mechanisms, while crucial, account for about 16% of spam-relatedenergyuse
TowardsaConsciousConsumptionModel
Understanding the multifaceted impact of seemingly innocuous daily occurrences is paramount. Junk mail, in both its physical and digital forms, is a prime example of an often-overlooked contributor to environmentaldegradation
Addressingthisrequiresamulti-prongedapproach: For Individuals: Be proactive Opt out of physical mailing lists through services designed for this purpose. Regularly unsubscribe from unwanted email newsletters and empty your spam folder. These small actions, multiplied across millions, create significant impact.
For Businesses: Re-evaluate marketing strategies Is mass-mailing truly effective and sustainable? Explore targeted digital marketing, prioritize consent-based communication, and invest in robust spam filters for outgoing communications. Embrace digital transformationinatrulysustainablemanner,notjusta “paperless”one.
For Policy Makers: Consider regulations that encourage responsible marketing practices and disincentivize the creation of excessive junk mail, bothphysicalanddigital
The fight against climate change and resource depletion is complex, requiring attention to both the large industrial polluters and the subtle, pervasive drains on our planet. By acknowledging and actively addressingtheESGimplicationsofjunkmail,wetake another vital step towards a more sustainable and responsiblefuture
About the Author: A seasoned leader with 18+ years in green finance, HR, digital tech, and cybersecurity, I champion sustainability and positive change. My expertise spans strategic implementation, operational excellence, and fostering impactful initiatives.I’mdedicatedtodrivingamoresustainablefuture,with a keen interest in corporate governance and green building practices.
“Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge.”
By Thomas Edison
RETAIL REINVENTED: HOW DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, ESG, AND DATA STRATEGY ARE REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF COMMERCE
In today’s consumer economy, digital transformation is not just about speed or convenience it’s about responsibility Retail and e-commerce firms are being asked to deliver operational excellence, meaningful environmental action, and digitaltransparencysimultaneously Theresult?Aradicalredefinitionofvalue
At the heart of this transformation is data not just as a technical asset, but as a strategicenablerofcompliance,competitiveness,andconsumertrust
1.FromData-DriventoValue-Driven:ANewEraforRetail
Historically, digital transformation in retail meant automating operations, optimizing supply chains, and delivering frictionless e-commerce user experiences. Those were game changers in their time but today's landscape demandsmore Modernretailersmustnotonlytrackandreportemissions,ensure supply chain transparency, and deploy ethical AI, but also demonstrate these efforts,drivenbybothregulationandconsumerpressure
The strategic edge lies in data From Tableau dashboards to real-time ML models, business analytics now go beyond demand forecasting they measure sustainability performance. Metrics such as emissions per order, supplier diversity, and ethical logistics routing are gaining visibility on executive dashboards and are becoming standard on C-suite scorecards alongside traditionalfinancialKPIs.
In parallel, the rise of omnichannel retail, AI-enabled personalization, and automated logistics has elevated digital transformation from a competitive advantage to a business imperative Simultaneously, regulatory expectations are escalating The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and EU Taxonomy Regulation now require firms to report sustainable alignment of revenues,CapEx,andOpEx notasavoluntaryeffort,butasalegalobligation. These frameworks are more than compliance checklists they are systemic changes. They demand clarity. Retailers must identify which activities are “environmentally sustainable,” apply taxonomy-based screening criteria, and publish quantifiable KPIs such as the percentage of last-mile deliveries using low-emission vehicles or the share of revenue from circular economy-certified goods
Progressive companies are already embedding these requirements directly into their Business Intelligence (BI) systems Zalando, for instance, has implemented a supplier assessment model based on ESG ratings and now displays sustainability transparency labels for thousands of products online. Meanwhile, Patagoniaintegratesproductlifecycleanalyticsnotonlytooptimizesourcingand recycling efforts but also to communicate ESG progress transparently to customersandstakeholders.
Author: MuayaedQasim
2. Regulation Is No Longer Just for Finance: Meeting RealityandTurningIntoStrategy
Europe is leading the global shift in aligning capital markets and corporate governance with sustainable business practices At the heart of this transformation are two legislative cornerstones: the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) These frameworks are redefining what it means to operateresponsiblyintheretailande-commercesectors
TheEUTaxonomyRegulationrequirescompaniestoassess whether their economic activities align with specific environmental objectives from climate mitigation and circular economy initiatives to biodiversity protection and pollution reduction Building on that, the CSRD, coming into effect in January 2025, mandates nearly 50,000 companies including major retailers and e-commerce platforms to embed ESG disclosures in their official financialreporting
This is not just administrative overhead it is transformation by legislation. Retailers must now quantify ESG impacts with the same precision as financial indicators.Forexample,theyareexpectedtodisclose:
The percentage of products sold that meet EU-defined environmentalcriteria
The proportion of logistics handled by low-emission transport
The amount of revenue and CapEx derived from activitiesalignedwithsustainablegoals.
For e-commerce platforms with hybrid models including owned brands, third-party sellers, and logistics partners this poses a complex challenge. ESG data must be aggregated across diverse supply chains and digital ecosystems,ofteninrealtime
Yet leading firms are turning this challenge into a strategic opportunity According to PwC, over 70% of large retail and consumer goods companies are already adapting their analytics infrastructure to accommodate CSRD and the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). These companies are building analytics systems that go far beyond compliance they are using ESG metrics to improve operational performance, identify risks, and drive innovation
In this new context, data warehouses must evolve. It’s no longer enough to store traditional KPIs such as inventory turnover or sales per square meter. ESG-ready systems mustalsotrack:
Emissionspershipment.
Packagingrecyclabilityandwasterates
SupplierESGauditoutcomes
Social criteria such as workforce diversity and labor practices
Smart retailers are embedding taxonomy logic into their data models and business intelligence dashboards, enabling real-time visibility into sustainability performance and turning transparency into a competitiveedge.
3. Evolving Data Architecture: Building the SQL + NoSQLSynergy
To excel today, retail data architecture must evolve Modern retailers face both structured and unstructured data demands. SQL databases remain foundational for transactional integrity handling orders, inventory, and financial records with ACID guarantees. Yet, the explosion of semi-structured data from product reviews and browsing behavior to IoT sensor data and social sentiment requiresadifferentapproach
Increasingly, companies are adopting hybrid SQL–NoSQL architectures For example, a sustainable fashion brand might use PostgreSQL for customer data and finance while relying on MongoDB to model each product’s lifecycle footprint energy usage, materials, and end-of-life options. This dual model enables realtime ESG scoring, feeding both backend analytics and consumer-facingsustainabilitylabels.
Retail giants such as Amazon and Walmart have pioneered this strategy SQL handles structured transactions,whileNoSQLpowersdynamicdatasuchas: Clickstreamanalytics
Sustainabilitymetadata(labels,ratings)
IoT sensor inputs from smart shelves and green logisticsplatforms
Academic research supports this approach. A 2023 study published in IEEE Access found that hybrid SQL/NoSQL architectures outperform single-model systems in both performance and agility for e-commerce sustainability use cases(Alietal.,2023).
The rise of hybrid transaction/analytical processing (HTAP) further reinforces this architecture HTAP breaks the divide between OLTP and OLAP, enabling real-time analytics on live transactional data a perfect match for ESG-informed operational decisions such as emissions monitoring or circularinventorytriggers.
Meanwhile, industry tools facilitate true interoperability. Data platforms like PostgreSQL Foreign Data Wrappers and PolyBase enable cross-querying between SQL and NoSQL stores (eg, from Postgres to MongoDB), while data pipelines using Fivetran, dbt, or CDC tools keep these systemssynchronizedandcompliant
WhyThisMattersforRetailers:
Scalability&Flexibility:NoSQLhandlesunpredictable and high-volume workloads, while SQL ensures transaction precision and governance. Hybrid models balanceboth.
Operational Efficiency: BI dashboards can now surface ESG metrics such as emissions per order or supplier sustainabilityscoresinnearrealtime ComplianceandInnovation:WithEUESGframeworks and CSRD mandates looming, hybrid systems enable automated classification of taxonomy-aligned activities and support sophisticated ESG compliance all while fosteringinnovationandcustomertrust.
4.TheCloudWarehouseasStrategicKeystone
In today’s data-driven retail landscape, the cloud data warehouse isn’t just technology it’s a strategic hub connectingbusiness,sustainability,andcompliance
Industry leaders like Amazon, Walmart, and Zalando have embraced modern warehousing solutions Snowflake, Google BigQuery, and Amazon Redshift to aggregate diverse data streams. From order history and inventory operations to sustainability metadata and customer insights, these warehouses serve as the backbone for enterprise-wide intelligence, supporting both internal agility and external reportingobligations
But the value goes beyond metrics it powers narrative. When a retailer demonstrates that 72% of last quarter’s logistics used low-emission carriers or that a new circular initiative reduced returns by 15%, they’re not just ticking compliance boxes they’re building credibility with stakeholders
Cloud platforms enable this transformation by integrating SQL and NoSQL sources, delivering cross-functional analytics from sales forecasting to emissions benchmarking and taxonomy-based ESG tracking. For example, Google BigQuery now supports AI-enhanced labeling systems that automatically flag activities against EUTaxonomycriteria.
This shift is not theoretical According to Google Cloud’s 2024 report on ESG analytics, over 60% of major retail clients are using cloud-based tools to calculate emissions, track ESG-aligned investments, and segment customers basedonsustainabilitypreferences
WhatThisMeansforRetailStrategy:
Scalable Integration:Warehouses like Snowflake and BigQuery efficiently connect structured financial datawithsemi-structuredsustainabilityindicators. Compliance Made Operational: With taxonomyaligned tagging built into pipelines, CSRD and EU Taxonomy reporting become part of everyday analytics
Data-Powered Storytelling: Sustainability metrics become competitive differentiators evident, not aspirational,incustomer-facingdashboards.
In this way, cloud data warehouses become more than repositories they become trust engines, framing sustainability as both a performance metric and a brand promise
5. Corporate Digital Responsibility: Trust as the New BrandCurrency
Trust in retail today goes beyond carbon footprints it extends to how brands handle data. Consumers increasingly demand control over their information, transparency in algorithmic decision-making, and ethical AIpracticesthatsurpassbasiclegalrequirements
That is the essence of Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) the digital counterpart to ESG CDR compels companies to ask not just what data they collect, but how and why they use it It addresses issues spanning algorithmic bias, data governance, digital inclusion, and theecologicalsustainabilityofdataandalgorithms.
In practical terms, CDR transforms mechanisms such as consent flows, personalization engines, and marketing communications into strategic opportunities. Explainability becomes a feature, proactive disclosure a norm, and ethical designmovesfromafterthoughttodesignprinciple.
Leading brands are already embedding these values into their customer propositions Apple, for example, positions data privacy as a core brand promise Ethical online retailers such as Veo and Avocado Store not only curate sustainable products they also openly detail how their algorithms work, how consent is obtained, and how personaldataismanagedtoreinforcetrust.
This shift isn’t just about ethics it’s about business strategy AFinancialTimessurveyunderscorestheurgency: 52% of ethically minded consumers identify a lack of digital transparency as their biggest concern, and 43% cite potential legal consequences as a key risk under carelessAI deployments
Meanwhile, research in IEEE Access highlights that consumers express significant distrust toward AI-driven retail systems that collect personal data or exhibit biased behavior underscoring the need for rigorous transparency, fairness,andaudittrailsintechnologydesign
Profiles of younger consumers matter most Members of Generation Z, who significantly influence brand reputation, rank digital ethics among their top priorities Studies indicate that Gen Z consumers dissatisfied with unclear data practices are more likely to switch brands and actively prioritizevalues-alignedpurchasing.
According to Deloitte’s 2024 survey, nearly nine in ten Gen Z and millennial respondents report that corporate purpose and ethical conduct significantly influence their loyalty to brands
WhyCDRMattersforRetailLeaders:
ShieldAgainst Reputational Risk:Algorithmic bias and opaque data practices can erode trust faster than operationalmissteps.
Competitive Differentiation: Brands that communicate privacy and ethics credibly beyond compliance builddeeperloyalty
Strategic Alignment with ESG: CDR extends traditional ESG frameworks into data policy and human–technologyinteraction
In the age of surveillance capitalism, brands that earn trust through transparent data practices are not just avoiding risk theyareinvestinginlong-termresilience.
6. ESG and CDR Front and Center: Turning Values intoBrandNarratives
ESG and Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) are no longer mere operational back-end checks they are definingpillarsofmodernbrandcommunication Today’s consumers choose brands based on shared values Storytelling about sustainable sourcing, ethical labor, and data governance can powerfully influence perception butonlyiftheunderlyingdataisverifiable
Marketing teams must collaborate closely with data and sustainability departments to substantiate every green or ethical claim with evidence. Vague messaging is being replaced by dynamic, data-backed dashboards embedded inproductpages,CO₂trackersforreturns,andinteractive traceability maps that reveal where and how each item is made
Leading brands are turning transparency into trust the most valuable currency of the 21st century. Retailers including Allbirds and The North Face offer real-time, product-level sustainability metrics. Allbirds labels each sneaker with its carbon footprint approximately 7.12 kg CO₂ per pair, compared to a typical 14 kg CO₂ footprint for running shoes The North Face commits to 100% recycled or regenerative fabrics by 2025 and integrates circular-design features along with repair and trade-in programs
These are not marketing gimmicks they are data products. Allbirds openly shares its methodology, lifecycle data, and sustainability goals including a pledge to halve per-product emissions by 2025. Meanwhile, The North Face goes further by enabling customers to engage with circularity through take-back, refurbish,andresaleprograms
In essence, consumers demand proof, not promises Brands that provide real-time data and transparent supply chain insights earn loyalty and set new competitive benchmarks.
WhatWinningLooksLike:
Firmsthatleadthistransformation:
Track ESG performance across operations and supply chainsusingintegratedSQLandNoSQLdatabases. Embed EU Taxonomy classifications directly into data modelsandreportingtools
Align marketing, compliance, and technology teams throughshareddataplatforms
Build CDR principles into their digital architecture and brandvoice educating,notjustinforming,customers These companies aren’t just preparing for the future they’reredefiningit.
Focus Area Strategic Action
Data Strategy
ESG Reporting
CDR Integration
Brand Communication
Build hybrid SQL/NoSQL architecture to support structured and unstructured ESG data.
Implement automated data labeling aligned with CSRD and EU Taxonomy.
Develop clear, usercentered data policies and explainable AI systems.
Ensure marketing claims are backed by verifiable analytics and transparency tools.
Summary: Trust, Transparency, and Transformation
RethinkingRetailStrategyintheESGEra
Retailande-commerceareundergoingaprofoundshift from optimizing logistics and user experience to embedding sustainability, ethical data use, and regulatory compliance at their core Digital transformation is no longer just about efficiency; it’s now a vehicle for buildingtrustandlong-termvalue
a.RegulationsAreRedefiningRetailStrategy
EuropeanregulationssuchastheCorporateSustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Taxonomy Regulation are compelling retailers to disclose environmental impacts, ethical sourcing, and sustainable investments in standardized, auditable formats With over 50,000 companies affected by CSRD from 2025 onward, compliance has become a strategic imperative not an optionaladd-on Retailersmustnowquantify:
•Emissionspershipment
•Recycled-materialsusage
•ESGalignmentoflogisticsandsuppliers
•Circular-economyinitiatives
Forward-thinking players like Zalando and Patagonia are turning this into a competitive advantage, embedding sustainability metrics into both back-end analytics and customer-facingstorytelling
b.DataArchitecture:TheEngineBehindESG
Delivering on these demands requires hybrid data strategies. Structured business data (orders, SKUs, finance) remains rooted in SQL systems. But to manage theexplosionofsemi-structuredESGandbehavioraldata from sensor logs to product reviews retailers are increasinglyadoptingNoSQLsolutionslikeMongoDB
A 2023 IEEE Access study found that hybrid SQL/NoSQLsystemsoutperformtraditionalarchitectures in agility and ESG-related data workloads. Retail giants like Amazon and Walmart are leveraging these hybrid infrastructurestohandle:
•Clickstreamsandsustainabilityfilters
•IoTdatafrom“green”warehouses
•Socialsentimentaroundethicalclaims
Cloud data warehouses like Snowflake, Google BigQuery, and Redshift now function as ESG control towers They merge fragmented data streams and support dynamic reporting, aligning operational KPIs with EU sustainabilitytaxonomies.
c. Corporate Digital Responsibility: From Compliance toCulture
ESG is not just physical; it is digital. Consumers increasingly demand transparency over how their data is used They expect ethicalAI, informed consent, and control over personalization engines This is where Corporate DigitalResponsibility(CDR)comesin thenextfrontierin digitalstrategy
Brands likeApple have built trust by making privacy a core brand value. Niche ethical marketplaces such as Veo or Avocado Store outperform larger competitors in digitaltrust scores, thanks to transparent algorithms and clear consent policies. According to a 2024 McKinsey study, 41% of Gen Z consumers factor data ethics into their purchasingdecisions
d.FromDatatoDialogue:ESGasBrandNarrative
Sustainability used to be a marketing slogan. Today, it’s a data product. Modern brand communication is built on verifiable claims. Leading retailers now embed carbon dashboards into product pages, publish traceability maps, andco-createsustainabilitycontentwiththeircustomers.
Allbirds publishes the carbon footprint of every shoe, backed by transparent methodology The North Face integrates circular design and resale programs directly into theuserjourney
The message is clear: data-driven transparency builds trust. And in the age of regulation, climate urgency, and empowered consumers, trust is the most valuable currency inretail.
e.Conclusion:Strategy,NotJustSystems
RetailersmuststoptreatingESGanddataethicsasisolated compliance exercises They are strategic differentiators The convergence of digital transformation, EU regulations, business analytics, and consumer expectations requires a new kind of leadership one that sees sustainability and ethics not just as risks to mitigate, but as assets to maximize.
Companies that embed ESG and CDR into their architecture, analytics, and brand storytelling will not just survive theywilllead
References:
European Commission (2023), EU Taxonomy for SustainableActivities –finance.ec.europa.eu
Hybrid SQL-NoSQL Systems;09.07.2025; https://www.meegle.com/en_us/topics/nosql/hybrid-sql-nosql-systems SQL and NoSQL Databases Software architectures performance analysis and assessments -- A Systematic Literature Review; Wisal Khan, Teerath Kumar,ZhangCheng,KislayRaj,ArunabhaMRoy,BinLuo;14.09.2022
Optimizing E-commerce Databases:AComparativeAnalysis of SQL and NoSQLSolutions;NadeemAbbas,JemmaFarah;11.2023
Alietal.,2023;https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9833275 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_transactional/analytical_processing HybridArchitectures: Real Interoperability between RDBMS and NoSQL in 2025;07.05.2025; https://dbsnoop.com/hybrid-architectures-betweenrdbms-and-nosql/ Hybrid SQL-NoSQL Systems;09.07.2025; https://www.meegle.com/en_us/topics/nosql/hybrid-sql-nosql-systems Unlock AI with unified data: BigQuery's platform advantage; https://cloud.google.com/solutions/data-analytics-and-ai https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Corporate_digital_responsibility
What does AI mean for a responsible business?; Financial Times; https://www.ft.com/content/52249269-cca7-4060-8009-ea1c1fa28f60 Ethical AI in Retail: Consumer Privacy and Fairness;20.10.2024;https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.15369
Allbirds keeps ‘nerdy’approach to emissions at the heart of rescue plan; Heather Clancy;20.05.2024; https://trellis.net/article/allbirds-keeps-nerdyapproach-emissions-heart-rescue-plan/ https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/circularity
"Surely we have a responsibility to leave for future generations a planet that is healthy and habitable by all species " –
Sir David Attenborough
AGRIVOLTAICS: A TRIPLE-WIN FRAMEWORK FOR SAUDI FOOD, ENERGY, AND WATER SECURITY
ContextualizingtheFood-Energy-WaterTrilemma
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 represents a confident push towards a diversified, sustainable future, yet a multifaceted problem lies at the center of this transformation As the land required for solar energy production overlaps with the land needed for food security, both are simultaneously constrained by one of the world's most acute water scarcities. In this context, an effective approach must turn this resource competition into resource synergy. Agrivoltaics, a framework for the co-location of solar energy and agriculture, emerges as a promising solution; it has the capacity to transform a single land asset into a multi-outputresourceforamoreself-sufficientKingdom.
A pillar of Vision 2030 is a complete restructuring of the national energy mix, with at least 50% of electricity originating from renewable sources by the 2030s (Vision 2030, 2025) To reach this goal, new solar capacity has been proposed through the National Renewable Energy Program The direct implication is a significant land-use demand, as conventional utility-scale solar farms require large physical footprints. Meeting this target would create an unavoidable competition for land. The challenge is intensified by the current land zoning distribution.Although81%ofSaudiArabia’sterritoryisclassifiedasagricultural land, it consists mostly of rangeland, and the arable land amounts to only 1.6%, makingeverysquarekilometeranindispensableasset(UnitedNations,2025).
Adding to the Kingdom’s geographic constraints, land scarcity exists within the context of acute water scarcity Saudi Arabia's renewable water resources are extremelylimited,withapproximately73cubicmeterspercapitaperyear,which is below the United Nations' absolute scarcity threshold (United Nations, 2025) Moreover, the deficit is driven by the agricultural sector consuming over 77% of available water through the unsustainable extraction of non-renewable fossil groundwater (GASTAT, 2023). Under current conditions, any expansion of traditionalagricultureisconstrainedbybothphysicallimitsandecologicalcosts.
Finally, the described pressures are exacerbated by a strategic vulnerability in food security, with imports meeting approximately 80% of the Kingdom's needs (USDA, 2024) While enhancing domestic production is an objective set by Vision2030,achievingitthroughconventional,water-intensiveagricultureisnot viable A policy contradiction has emerged where achieving one national objective undermines another.To resolve this challenge, a solution redefining the productivity of land and water is required. By delivering benefits across all three avenues,agrivoltaicsoffersthatsolution.
Agrivoltaics resolves the Kingdom’s resource trilemma by creating a synergetic ecosystem where the energy and agricultural components actively enhance each other’s performance It functions as a fully integrated triple-win framework that produces measurable gains across energy, water, and food security Its strategic relevance is magnified in hot arid climates like Saudi Arabia’s By reducing heat stress on crops and panels alike, it initiates a reinforcing cycle of improved efficiency and resource conservation.
EnergyandLandEfficiency
Research revealed substantial gains in overall Land Use Efficiency,rangingfrom60%toashighas94%,meaning one hectare of agrivoltaics can deliver the combined productive output of up to 19 hectares of separately managed solar and agricultural land (Fraunhofer ISE, 2024) Beyond optimizing land productivity, crops offer reciprocal advantages to energy infrastructure. Vegetation beneath solar panels can significantly reduce panel temperatures through evapotranspiration by up to 9°C (Gill et al., 2024). Other tests affirm that cooler solar panels generate higher energy outputs by 1-3% and experience lower degradation rates, extending their operational lifespan (NREL, 2022) Agriculture enhances energy asset performance, creating long-term operational efficienciesandincreasedresilience
WaterSecurity
Partial shade from overhead solar panels directly reduces soil evaporation and plant transpiration, the primary drivers of water loss in arid agriculture. By shielding the ground from direct solar radiation, the system helps soil retain moisture for longer periods Studies document soil moisture retention improvements ranging from approximately 15% to 29% (Barron-Gafford et al, 2019) Such improvements translate into substantial reductions in overall water demand. Studies conducted in desert climates consistently demonstrate that agrivoltaics can reduce agricultural water usage within a range of 20% to 50%(NREL,2022;STAP,2024).Thus,agrivoltaicsallow for separating domestic food production growth from unsustainablewaterresourcedepletion
FoodSecurityandResilience
The moderated microclimate created by agrivoltaics functionsasamediumforclimate-adaptiveagricultureby reducing plant stress and increasing yields of high-value crops Protective shading insulates plants from extreme heat and damaging solar radiation, resulting in substantial gains There is evidence demonstrating that total fruit production of chiltepin peppers increased threefold, while cherry tomato production doubled compared to conventional farming (Barron-Gafford et al., 2019). Existing research also highlights the potential for cultivating more water-efficient forage and fodder, supporting the sustainability of the domestic livestock and dairy industries (Fraunhofer ISE, 2024) Such protective functions stabilize domestic food production andenhanceeconomicviability
Ultimately, the three interconnected pillars form an integrated triple-win framework. As water conserved supports crop growth, it cools the solar panels and enhances energy generation. The panels provide protective shading that sustains agricultural productivity. This cycle multiplies the value derived from Saudi Arabia’slimitedlandandwaterresources.
TherationaleforagrivoltaicsinSaudiArabiaissupported by a distinctive combination of domestic expertise and clear market demand. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) currently leads international research in solar materials, water-efficient irrigation,anddesert-adaptedagriculture Simultaneously, significant market demand originates from giga-projects such as NEOM and Red Sea Global, whose commitments to creating sustainable and self-reliant ecosystems naturally drive immediate opportunities. International precedents from Japan’s policy-driven market, US research in arid climates, and Germany’s foundational techno-economic models provide a clear roadmap for the Kingdom.
It is essential to acknowledge challenges associated with agrivoltaics implementation The primary obstacle is higher initial capital expenditure, as agrivoltaic systems typically cost between 4% and 52% more than conventional solar farms due to requirements for elevated and reinforced structures (STAP, 2024). Additionally, because certain crops cannot thrive under partial shading, localizedresearchisnecessarytodetermineoptimalcroppanel combinations and prevent yield losses. Integrating agricultural practices with energy infrastructure also presents logistical complexities, requiring system designs compatiblewithstandardfarmingequipment
AnActionPlanfortheKingdom
Establish Policy and Financial Frameworks.Aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative’s ambitious objectives, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Ministry of Energy must establish a streamlined regulatory framework To address initial funding challenges, targeted financial incentives from the government would be essential, with the Public Investment Fund playing a pivotal role in reducing financialrisksforearly-stagecommercial-scaleprojects Launch a National Research and Localization Program. Led by institutions such as KAUST and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, this step leverages their globally recognized expertise in solar technology, water management, and desert agriculture to build a robust, locally relevant knowledge base Developing comprehensive datasets to identify optimal crop-panel combinations specific to Saudi Arabia's climate zones would be vital to maximizing agrivoltaics' synergistic benefits
PrioritizePilotProjectsandGiga-ScaleIntegration.
High-profile pilot projects should be launched in key agricultural regions, such as Al-Qassim, to demonstrate agrivoltaics’ practical efficiency and scalability. Gigaprojects like NEOM and Red Sea Global, designed explicitly for innovation and sustainability, naturally attract and accelerate the adoption of technologies that offer integrated food, water, and energy solutions Such pilot projects could also stimulate local economies by creatingnewemploymentopportunitiesinruralregions. Adopting agrivoltaics represents more than a simple energy or agricultural investment. It embodies a strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia’s long-term resilience. By converting resource competition into resource synergy, agrivoltaics provides a practical tool for achieving the water security, food security, and economic diversification goals central toVision 2030 This strategic investment can establish a lasting legacy of resource stewardship, securing economic sustainability for generationstocome
References
Barron-Gafford, G.A., Pavao-Zuckerman, M.A., Minor, R. L., Sutter, L. F., Barnett-Moreno, I., Blackett, D.T., ... & Macknick, J. E. (2019). Agrivoltaics provide mutual benefits across the food–energy–water nexusindrylands.NatureSustainability,2(9),848-855. Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE). (2024). Agrivoltaics: Opportunities for agriculture and the energy transition. Fraunhofer ISE. https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en/publications/studies/agrivoltaicsopportunities-for-agriculture-and-the-energy-transition.html
General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). (2023). Water Accounts Publication 2023. https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2067030/Water+Accounts+ Publication+2023+EN.pdf/11312e80-41b6-1eb0-a14f-177a790590e9? t=1735923570932
Gill, B., Rogers, M., Beverly, C., McCaskill, M., & Wallace, D. (2024). Microclimate Observations and Pasture Trials within Commercial Solar Farms and Their Implications for Sheep Grazing Agrivoltaic Developments. SSRN. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4807687
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (2022). The 5 Cs of Agrivoltaic Success Factors in the United States: Lessons from the InSPIRE Research Study. NREL. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/83566.pdf
Scientific and TechnicalAdvisory Panel (STAP). (2024).Agrivoltaics: A STAP background note (GEF/STAP/C.66/Inf.04). https://www.thegef.org/sites/default/files/documents/202401/EN_GEF.STAP_.C.66.Inf_.04_Agrivoltaics.pdf
United Nations. (2025). Saudi Arabia. SDG 6 Data. https://www.sdg6data.org/en/country-or-area/Saudi%20Arabia USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. (2024). Saudi Arabia – Retail foods annual. (Report No. SA2024-0012). https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFi leName?
“Sustainability includes how you run your business, and my bottom line includes how you treat your people. Sustainability starts with your staff.” –
Tom Douglas
GREENING THE DESERT: ASSESSING THE GREEN RIYADH PROJECT'S IMPACT ON URBAN HEAT
MITIGATION
Introduction
As cities across the globe grapple with rising temperatures, urban greening has emerged as a crucial strategy for sustainable development Nowhere is this more urgent than in arid environments like Riyadh, the capital of SaudiArabia, where extreme heat, dense urban structures, and minimal vegetation contribute to intense Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) effects. In response to these challenges, the Saudi government launched the Green Riyadh Project as part of its broader Vision 2030 agenda. This initiative aims to transform the city's landscape by planting millions of trees, expanding green spaces, and improving urbanlivingconditions.
This article draws from a neighbourhood-scale dissertation study to assess the Green Riyadh Project’s effectiveness in mitigating urban heat By analysing vegetation cover, built-up density, and land surface temperature (LST) trends using satellite remote sensing, the study provides evidence-based insights into theimpactofgreeninfrastructureonRiyadh’sthermalenvironmentfrom2019to 2024.
UnderstandingtheUrbanHeatIslandEffect
The Urban Heat Island effect refers to the phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to heatretainingsurfaceslikeasphalt,concrete,andbuildings Inaridcities,thiseffectis even more pronounced because of the limited vegetation and intense solar radiation Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI), a subset of this phenomenon, is measured using satellite-derived LST and offers a clear picture of the thermal landscape.
In Riyadh, SUHI effects have been linked to increased energy consumption, reduced thermal comfort, and environmental degradation. The Green Riyadh Project was conceived to address these issues by increasing vegetation cover, improving air quality, and reducing CO2 emissions By 2030, the initiative aims to increase the city’s green space from 15% to 9%, reduce temperatures by up to 2°C,andirrigate75milliontreesusingrecycledwater
The study utilised Landsat 8 satellite imagery, combined with weather station data and statistical analysis, to evaluate SUHI intensity across eight neighbourhoods seven targeted by the Green Riyadh Project and one (Aldirah) serving as a control (Figure 1). Three indicators were used: the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for vegetation cover, the Normalised Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) for urban density, and LST for surface temperature
Neighbourhoods were analysed over five years, focusing on data from August, the hottest month of the year in Riyadh. Spatial patterns of vegetation and temperature were visualised using QGIS, while statistical correlations were computed in R to understand the relationships between NDVI, NDBI, and LST
The results revealed significant spatial and temporal variation in vegetation cover and SUHI intensity across the studied neighbourhoods:
Vegetation Cover: Most neighbourhoods experienced a modest increase in NDVI values from 2019 to 2024 In Aljazirah,thepercentageoftheareawithNDVIabovethemedianincreasedfrom4991%to5071%
Temperature Trends: Median LST values declined slightly in many areas. For instance, Middle Uraija saw a drop from 50.91°Cin2019to47.90°Cin2024,likelylinkedtoincreasedvegetation.
SUHI Intensity: The highest SUHI intensity (up to 17.1°C) was recorded in 2023, while 2024 showed the lowest levels acrossmostneighbourhoods,suggestingthecoolingeffectsofgreeningwerebeginningtomaterialise.
The analysis also indicated that neighbourhoods with more even and spatially distributed vegetation experienced greater temperature reductions For example, the northern neighbourhoods of Alnakheel and Alghadir recorded lower SUHI intensitiesandhadNDVIvaluesabovethemedianexceeding50%
CorrelationAnalysis
Spearman’s rank correlation was used to examine the relationship between vegetation, built-up density, and surface temperatures.Severalkeytrendsemerged:
Negative Correlation Between NDVI and LST: In most neighbourhoods, higher vegetation cover was associated with lowersurfacetemperatures.Aljazirahhadoneofthestrongestnegativecorrelations(ρ=-0.401).
Positive Correlation Between NDBI and LST: Built-up areas consistently correlated with higher LST values. East Alnaseemshowedastrongpositivecorrelation(ρ=0402)
Unexpected Findings: In EastAlnaseem, there was a weak positive correlation between NDVI and LST, suggesting that vegetation in that area may be concentrated in heat-prone locations, like roadsides or concrete-heavy zones, diminishing itscoolingpotential
These findings underscore the importance of not only increasing vegetation but also ensuring its strategic placement and integrationwithintheurbanfabric.
ImplicationsforPolicyandUrbanPlanning
The success of urban greening projects, such as Green Riyadh, depends heavily on how vegetation is spatially distributed A neighbourhood with 50% green coverage concentrated in one area may not experience the same cooling benefits as one with smaller patches spread evenly throughout. Policymakers must consider these nuances whenplanningfutureinterventions.
The project’s use of recycled water for irrigation presents an innovative solution to the challenge of greening in an aridclimate Riyadh’slimitedrainfallandhighevaporation rates require sustainable irrigation strategies, and the deployment of a dedicated recycled water network capable of delivering 1 million cubic metres per day exemplifies a scalablemodelforothercitiesinsimilarenvironments
Additionally, the spatial inequality in SUHI exposure calls for a socially equitable approach to urban greening. Neighbourhoods with higher built-up densities and lower income levels may be disproportionately affected by extreme heat Atargeted approach, possibly guided by heat vulnerability mapping and public engagement, could ensure that all communities benefit from urban sustainabilityefforts
ChallengesandLimitations
While the study demonstrates the effectiveness of the GreenRiyadhProject,italsohighlightsseverallimitations.
Validation of satellite-derived LST with ground-based weather station data revealed discrepancies of up to 137°C Thesedifferencesareexpectedduetothenatureof remote sensing, which captures surface temperature over large areas, compared to point-based air temperature readings
Furthermore, data limitations prevented the study from conducting diurnal or nocturnal SUHI assessments. The use of a single weather station and the lack of highresolution temporal data restrict the ability to capture the fullthermalprofileofeachneighbourhood
Conclusion
The Green Riyadh Project is a significant step toward building climate resilient cities in the Gulf region This neighbourhood-scale study confirms that increased vegetation cover has a measurable cooling effect on urban surfaces However, to maximise impact, greening efforts must be spatially strategic, socially equitable, and supportedbyrobustdatamonitoringsystems.
By highlighting the relationship between urban form and thermalcomfort,thisresearchcontributesvaluableinsights for sustainable urban planning not only in Riyadh but also inotheraridandrapidlyurbanisingregions
References
Abulibdeh, A. (2021). Environmental Earth Sciences, 80(7), 259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09540-7
Royal Commission for Riyadh City (n.d.). Green Riyadh Project. https://www.rcrc.gov.sa/en/projects/green-riyadh
Susca, T., Gaffin, S. R., & Dell'Osso, G. R. (2011). Environmental Pollution, 159(8-9), 2119-2126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.03.003 Vision 2030b. (2024). Green Riyadh Targets. https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/v2030/vrp/sgi/green-riyadh
Zhou, D., Zhang, L., Hao, L., Sun, G., & Liu, Y. (2011). Remote Sensing of Environment, 115(10), 2426-2437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2011.05.014
“Sustainable development is a fundamental break that’s going to reshuffle the entire deck. There are companies today that are going to dominate in the future simply because they understand that.” –
Francois-Henri Pinault
BEYOND THE BAG: HOW LULU IS TRANSFORMING RETAIL WITH ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES
In recent years, sustainability has become a cornerstone of corporate responsibility, especially in the retail sector. LuLu Retail stores in Saudi Arabia are increasingly adopting innovative sustainability initiatives that align with the Kingdom’sstrategicgoals.
LuLu Hypermarket, featured in Deloitte's 'Global Powers of Retailing 2021' survey, is the leading hypermarket and supermarket chain in the Middle East, with a presence in over 10 countries In SaudiArabia, the brand's 69 stores align with 'Vision 2030,' catering to 200,000 daily customers With 5,000 Saudi associates, including 2,200 females, LuLu aims to grow to 20,000 employees by 2030,contributingsignificantlytotheretaillandscape.Thisarticleexploresthree key sustainability initiatives - solar installations in warehouses, plastic bottle recycling machines, and sustainability-themed walkathons - and examines how LuLu Retail contribute to environmental sustainability, community involvement, andinnovationintheKingdomofSaudiArabia.
One of the most impactful sustainability initiatives undertaken by LuLu Retail in Saudi Arabia is the installation of solar panels on warehouse rooftops. Given the Kingdom’s abundant sunlight, solar energy presents a viable and efficient alternative to traditional power sources. Retailers are leveraging this renewable energy to power lighting, HVAC systems, and refrigeration units, significantly reducing their carbon footprintandoperationalcosts
These installations are not only environmentally beneficial but also economically advantageous. By generating their own electricity, warehouse can reduce dependency on fossil fuels, lower utility bills, and contribute to the national goal of increasing renewable energy usage. The initiative supports Saudi Vision 2030’s objective to diversify energy sources and promotesustainabledevelopment
1.1.RiyadhCentralWarehouseSolarProject
On 25 February 2025, LuLu inaugurated its first solar energy project in Saudi Arabia at the Riyadh Central Warehouse. This milestone project features a 502.7 kWp rooftop solar plant designed to harness the abundant solar energy available in the region. The installation is expected to generate approximately 846 MWh of clean energy annually This substantial energy output will significantly offset the warehouse’s electricity consumption, resulting in a reduction of approximately 382 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. This initiative marks a major step forward in LuLu’s sustainability journey and sets a precedentforfuturerenewableenergyprojects.
1.1.DammamCentralLogisticsSolarInstallation
Continuing its commitment to sustainability, LuLu launched another major solar project on 28 July 2025 at its Central Logistics facility in Dammam This installation boasts a larger system size of 7077 kWp and is projected to generate 1,190,099 kWh of green energy in its first year of operation. The energy produced will serve the power requirements of the logistics warehouse, thereby reducing the facility’s dependence on conventional energy sources. This project is expected to cut down carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 535 metric tons annually, further reinforcing LuLu’s dedication to environmental conservation
1.PlasticBottleRecyclingMachine
To address the growing issue of plastic waste, LuLu Express, DQ, Riyadh have introduced plastic bottle recycling machine. This machine allows customers to deposit used plastic bottles, which are then collected and processed for recycling. LuLu partnered with SIRC to incentivize participation by offering loyalty points in exchange for recycled items, encouraging responsible consumerbehavior
LuLu Hypermarket Saudi Arabia has been recognized for the “Best Waste Diversion Initiative of the Year (Private Sector)” at the Saudi Arabia Cleaning, Waste Management, and FM Awards 2023. The award acknowledges the strides made by the retail giant in adopting a holistic and impactful approach to waste reductionandsustainability.
This initiative promotes a circular economy by ensuring that plastic waste is reused rather than discarded It also raises awareness about the importance of recycling and empowers customers to take part in sustainability efforts. Due to this initiative 437,225 plastic bottles collected which averages 628 bottles per day in the store. Until now 1000+ users actively registered in the program to accumulate 10000+ kgs of plastics restored from landfill equal to 65000+ kgs of CO impact reduced. 2
1. SolarInstallationinWarehouse
One of the most impactful sustainability initiatives undertaken by LuLu Retail in SaudiArabia is the installation of solar panels on warehouse rooftops. Given the Kingdom’s abundant sunlight, solar energy presents a viable and efficient alternative to traditional power sources. Retailers are leveraging this renewable energy to power lighting, HVAC systems, andrefrigerationunits,significantlyreducingtheircarbonfootprintandoperationalcosts.
These installations are not only environmentally beneficial but also economically advantageous. By generating their own electricity, warehouse can reduce dependency on fossil fuels, lower utility bills, and contribute to the national goal of increasing renewable energy usage The initiative supports Saudi Vision 2030’s objective to diversify energy sources and promotesustainabledevelopment
1.1.RiyadhCentralWarehouseSolarProject
On 25 February 2025, LuLu inaugurated its first solar energy project in Saudi Arabia at the Riyadh Central Warehouse. This milestone project features a 502.7 kWp rooftop solar plant designed to harness the abundant solar energy available in the region. The installation is expected to generate approximately 846 MWh of clean energy annually. This substantial energy output will significantly offset the warehouse’s electricity consumption, resulting in a reduction of approximately 382 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year This initiative marks a major step forward in LuLu’s sustainability journeyandsetsaprecedentforfuturerenewableenergyprojects
1.2.DammamCentralLogisticsSolarInstallation
Continuing its commitment to sustainability, LuLu launched another major solar project on 28 July 2025 at its Central Logistics facility in Dammam. This installation boasts a larger system size of 707.7 kWp and is projected to generate 1,190,099kWhofgreenenergyinitsfirstyearofoperation.Theenergyproducedwillservethepowerrequirementsofthe logisticswarehouse,therebyreducingthefacility’sdependenceonconventionalenergysources.Thisprojectisexpectedto cut down carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 535 metric tons annually, further reinforcing LuLu’s dedication to environmentalconservation.
2.PlasticBottleRecyclingMachine
To address the growing issue of plastic waste, LuLu Express, DQ, Riyadh have introduced plastic bottle recycling machine. This machine allows customers to deposit used plastic bottles, which are then collected and processed for recycling. LuLu partnered with SIRC to incentivize participation by offering loyalty points in exchange for recycled items, encouraging responsible consumerbehavior
LuLu Hypermarket SaudiArabia has been recognized for the “Best Waste Diversion Initiative of the Year (Private Sector)” at the Saudi Arabia Cleaning, Waste Management, and FM Awards 2023. The award acknowledges the strides made by the retail giant in adopting a holistic and impactful approach to waste reductionandsustainability.
This initiative promotes a circular economy by ensuring that plastic waste is reused rather than discarded It also raises awareness about the importance of recycling and empowers customers to take part in sustainability efforts Due to this initiative 437,225 plastic bottles collected whichaverages628bottlesperdayinthestore Untilnow 1000+ users actively registered in the program to accumulate 10000+ kgs of plastics restored from landfill equalto65000+kgsofCO impactreduced. 2
3.Sustainability-ThemedWalkathons
The LuLuWalkathon 2025 held on February 15th at 7:00 AM at New Corniche, Khobar with the event, themed "Walk for a Sustainable Future" focuses on promoting health, fitness, and environmental awareness. The event promises to be a fun-filled, invigorating experience that combines physical activity with entertainment and a celebrationofcommunityspirit.
Beyond the walk, attendees were treated to an array of exciting performances, including a stunning Sea Show, the awe-inspiring Sway Pole Dance, the energetic and traditional Ardha (Arabic dance), and a vibrant Touring Show These performances kept the participants engaged and entertained throughout the day, making the event not justaboutfitnessbutalsoaboutcultureandfun.
The LuLu Walkathon 2025 is proudly supported by prominent brands like Nestlé and MasterCard, alongside ongoing support from key government departments, including the Al Khobar Municipality, Red Crescent, and Police Department Over 12k walkers had participated for the Walkathon join the movement and be part of this incrediblejourneytowardahealthier,sustainablefuture
4.SupportingSaudiVision2030
SaudiVision2030isastrategicframeworkaimedatreducingtheKingdom’sdependenceonoil,diversifyingitseconomy, and developing public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, and tourism A key pillar of this vision is environmentalsustainability,whichincludesgoalsforrenewableenergy,wastemanagement,andcommunitydevelopment.
In addition, LuLu has been strongly promoting reusable bags over disposable plastic ones and even linked it to supporting thelocalbreastcancerawarenessdrive.
The initiatives have been inclusive - shoppers have been encouraged to shift to using container refills in the roastery, for example,minimizingsingle-useitemusage ShiftingtopaperbagsandcartonrecyclinghasreducedLuLu’senvironmental impact
LuLu also initiated collaboration with Kiswa to reduce textile waste and support environmental responsibility along with otherinitiativeslike:
We adopted Food grade Paper Kraft Material for most of the foods that we serve to our customers, thereby reducing thePlasticPackageconsumptionandpromotingrecycling
Eco-Friendly Bags (Jute, Paper, Wooven and Cotton, etc) are being promoted for shopping instead of Single use PlasticBags
As part of Breast CancerAwareness Month, Lulu Hypermarket has announced the launch of a unique campaign titled 'Buy Green Support Pink,' aimed at raising awareness about breast cancer by supporting the Zahra Breast Cancer Association,oneoftheleadingorganizationsinSaudiArabiafocusedonawarenessandpreventionofthisdisease.
Together, these efforts demonstrate how LuLu Retail can support national objectives and lead by example in the transition to a sustainable future. By embracing sustainability, LuLu Retail stores in Saudi Arabia are not only improving their operational efficiency but also contributing to a larger movement towards environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
SUCCESSION IN THE SUSTAINABILITY ERA: BUILDING FUTURE-READY LEADERS THROUGH KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND GREEN SKILLS
Introduction
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its journey toward Vision 2030 and its Net Zero 2060 target, sustainability has evolved beyond policy discussions and environmental projects; it now demands a systemic transformation of how we manage, develop, and transfer knowledge within organizations Among the most pressing priorities in this transformation is the role of Human Resources in preparing the next generation of leaders who will inherit not only positions but alsothesustainabilitymindsetrequiredforlong-termnationalresilience
One often-overlooked enabler in this process is mentorship. As an HR leader navigating the intersection of strategy, succession, and sustainability, I’ve seen firsthand how mentorship becomes a powerful bridge between generations, particularly in organizations with aging leadership demographics. This article explores how mentorship and knowledge transfer must become central to workforce planning, especially in a region where green skills, ESG values, and employeesatisfactionarenowessentialdriversofperformance
TheSustainabilitySkillsGap:WhyHRMustActNow
Global sustainability commitments are reshaping labor market dynamics AccordingtoglobalfindingsandcorroboratedbyUNESCOandtheILO,thereis a growing mismatch between the green skills required in emerging sectors (e.g., renewable energy, green infrastructure, circular economy) and those currently embedded in the workforce. In Saudi Arabia, this challenge is compounded by demographic realities: many of the leaders who built the Kingdom’s industrial legacyarenearingretirement
Succession planning is no longer just a leadership continuity exercise, it’s a sustainability imperative HR must ensure that the wisdom, ethical orientation, and sustainability knowledge of these leaders are passed on through structured programsthatblendmentorship,experientiallearning,andgreenliteracy.
Traditional succession planning often focuses on role transition, competency mapping, and talent pipelines But in the context of sustainable transformation, we need to shift toward values-based knowledge transfer Mentorship programs should be designed not just to prepare successors technically, but to embed in themthecultureofsustainability,systemsthinking,andsocialresponsibility
Green organizational cultures thrive when employees feel part of a long-term vision that goes beyond profit. As Altassan (2024) demonstrates, leadership styles that promote environmental awareness and employee satisfaction can directly influence organizational sustainability outcomes. Mentorship becomes the vehicle to instill this leadership ethos early, creating a chain of accountability andpassionforimpact.
Author: ReemAlgasim
PublicPolicyandPrivatePractice:AligningIncentives
PublicpolicyinSaudiArabiahasbecomeincreasinglyboldinpromotingenvironmentalresponsibility,ESGcompliance, and corporate sustainability reporting.These mandates require organizations to not only change practices but also evolve culturesandthat’swhereHRcomesin
Strategic HR functions must now operate as translators between national goals and internal behaviors, ensuring that greenpoliciescascadeintoperformanceframeworks,KPIs,andtalentdevelopmentplans Byweavingsustainabilityinto leadership criteria and mentoring programs, companies can ensure long-term alignment between policy, purpose, and people.
Align with national strategy, linking HR programs toVision 2030 and Net Zero priorities to enhance purpose-driven leadership.
Conclusion
In a future defined by green transformation, talent strategies must evolve Succession planning must do more than fill positions, it must preserve values Mentorship becomes not only a retention tool but a legacy mechanism, ensuring that sustainabilityisnotagenerationaldreambutanintergenerationalcommitment
By embedding sustainability into leadership development and workforce planning, HR can act as both guardian and architectofagreener,wiserSaudiArabia.
THE POWER OF AI
Have you ever considered the environmental impact of artificial intelligence (AI)?
Every online interaction depends on processing information stored in remote servers housed in data centres worldwide This infrastructure consumes vast amounts of energy, currently accounting for approximately 1 to 15 percent of global electricity use, according to the International EnergyAgency (IEA) In at least five US states, data centres already exceed 10% of total electricity consumption, while in Ireland, they account for over 20% of all metered electricity use. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is accelerating this energydemandsignificantly andfast.
AI is incredibly energy-hungry because it demands massive computing power to train and run models Training involves setting up the model and enabling it to teach itself how to behave, while the operational phase allows users to interact with it by feeding prompts and receiving responses both of which are highly energy-intensive
According to Scientific American, if current AI trends continue, NVIDIA is expected to ship 1.5 million AI server units per year by 2027. Running at full capacity, these servers would consume at least 85.4 terawatt-hours of electricity annually morethanthetotalenergyconsumptionofmanysmallcountries.
The issue is that we are already taking AI for granted without considering what powers its ability to handle millions of requests daily The number ofAI queries is skyrocketing, relying on large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT-3 to process them, with even higher volumes expected in the future Yet, this intensivecomputationremainslargelyoutofsightandmind
It’s not just the soaring energy consumption AI’s significant power use also generates immense heat, requiring efficient cooling systems to prevent server overheating. Most cooling methods rely on large amounts of clean, fresh water. Yet only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh, and of that, 2.5% is locked away in glaciers and polar ice caps, making it inaccessible. This leaves a mere 0.5% of the planet’s water supply available to support a growing global population while alsomeetingtheincreasingdemandsofagricultureandindustry
A report from the University of Oxford highlights that even more energy is required to cool this water, which is either sprayed into the air flowing past the servers or evaporated to dissipate heat. Unless designed as a closed-loop system, thisprocessresultsinbothenergyconsumptionandwaterloss.Arelativelysmall 1-megawatt data centre using enough electricity to power 1,000 homes can consume26millionlitresofwaterperyearthroughtraditionalcoolingmethods.
Author: RichardCollins
CEOCSRAccreditation
Email:rich@csr-accreditation.co.uk
As LLMs continue to grow in popularity and more companies begin to develop their own models, these environmental concerns will only be compounded. Yet, thereisreasontobeoptimisticaseffortsarebeingmadeto limit the environmental impact of LLMs, and AI in general
Without intervention, the environmental impact of large language models will only intensify as their adoption grows
However, awareness is increasing, and efforts to mitigate AI’s environmental footprint are already in motion. These include improving data centre sustainability, enhancing hardware and software efficiency, and promoting responsible AI development By prioritising sustainability alongside technological progress, we can work toward a future where innovation and environmental responsibility gohandinhand
Increasingly, the answer may lean towards the precision and efficiency of Small Language Models (SLMs). Tailored for specific business domains ranging from IT to Customer Support, SLMs offer targeted, actionable insights, representing a more practical approach for enterprises focused on real-world value over computationalprowess
What is the advantage of a small language model (SLM)overalargelanguagemodel(LLM)?
Large language models like GPT-4 are revolutionising enterprises by automating complex tasks such as customer service, providing rapid, human-like responses that enhance user experiences. However, their broad training on diverse internet datasets can limit customisation for specificbusinessneeds
Asdiscussed,LLMsdemandvastcomputationalresources for both training and inference, leading to high energy consumption and substantial CO₂ emissions Additionally, they contribute to the growing water crisis, as data centres require significant amounts of water for cooling, further straininganalreadylimitedresource.
In contrast, Small Language Models are trained on more focused datasets tailored to the specific needs of individual enterprises This targeted approach reduces inaccuracies and minimises the risk of generating irrelevant or incorrect information When fine-tuned for specific domains, SLMs can achieve language understanding comparable to that of LLMs, making them highly effective for natural language processing tasks that requiredeepcontextualcomprehension.
The latest advancements in SLMs mark a breakthrough in energy-efficient, cost-effective AI technology, reshaping how businesses and developers approach artificial intelligence. These smaller models require significantly less energy to train and operate, leading to lower computational demands and reduced greenhouse gas emissions In many cases, SLMs can run locally on smartphones, laptops, or personal computers, often eliminating the need for water-intensive cooling systems usedinlarge-scaledatacentres
The CO2 difference between Small Language Models and Large Language Models is substantial, with SLMs generally providing a more sustainable alternative due to their lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions WhileLLMsshowcaseremarkablecapabilities, their high environmental impact raises concerns about long-term sustainability As AI continues to evolve, prioritising energy-efficient models and adopting sustainable practices across the AI lifecycle is essential This includes optimising data centre energy use, promoting renewable energy adoption, and minimising electronicwaste.
The world has seen a significant shift in recent years, particularly in attitudes toward environmental and social responsibility (CSR) Increasing awareness of AI’s environmental impact is driving efforts to make this transformative technology more sustainable When weighingthechoicebetweenSLMsandLLMs,it’scrucial to consider their environmental implications and advocate for responsible AI development. By making informed decisions and supporting sustainable innovation, we can harness the power of AI while minimising its ecological footprint.
Sustainability is a shared responsibility employees, businesses, stakeholders, and consumers all play a role in shaping the AI revolution With greater awareness and understanding, we can choose how to engage withAI in a waythatalignswithourenvironmentalvalues Whatever the future holds, both SLMs and LLMs will likely be a part of it their roles are distinctly suited for certain use cases, though overlap may exist between the twofromtimetotime.
FOCUSED ON LAND RESTORATION, DESERTIFICATION, AND DROUGHT RESILIENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2024: RAISING ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS AT ALBRIKI SITE, NEOM
On June 5th, 2024, the Albriki Site Office in NEOM proudly joined the global community in commemorating World Environment Day, an annual event dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and action The event focused on pressing environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity issues that are increasingly shaping the planet'sfuture.
This year's theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” underscores the urgency of restoring degraded landscapes, combating desertification, and strengthening resilience against droughts These challenges are particularly relevant to Saudi Arabia, a country whose natural environment facesacutepressuresfromdesertificationandlanddegradation
SaudiArabiaasGlobalHost
Saudi Arabia had the honor of hosting the global celebrations for World Environment Day 2024. This reflects the Kingdom’s growing commitment and leadership on the international environmental stage. The nation's proactive environmental strategies highlight its investment in delivering meaningful, scalable solutions to some of the most critical ecological threats facing the world today
SaudiArabiaisleadingbyexampleinseveralways:
The Group of 20 Global Land Initiative: Spearheaded by the Kingdom, this ambitious program aims to halve degraded land globally by 2040, a target thatcouldhelpreversedecadesofenvironmentalharmandrestoreecological balance.
Middle East Green Initiative (MGI): With a USD 2.5 billion investment, Saudi Arabia is pushing for regional collaboration to fight climate change. The initiative seeks to accelerate green infrastructure, support sustainable landuse,andenhancecarbonsinkcapacitiesacrosstheMiddleEast
Author: SalmanAnwar
Saudi Arabia holds significant potential for land restoration, desertification control, and drought resilience due to its growing commitment to environmental sustainabilityandregionalclimatechallenges.Herearekeyaspects:
At the Albriki Site in NEOM, the event brought together employees, environmental professionals, and local leaders to discussandreflectonsustainablepractices Activitiesincluded:
The celebration was not just symbolic; it served as a platform to engage employees, promote sustainability initiatives, andbuildacultureofenvironmentalstewardshipwithinNEOM’soperations.
NEOM'sCommitmenttoSustainability
As a flagship of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, NEOM is designed with sustainability at its core from zero-emission transportation to renewable energy integration and conservation of natural ecosystems The World Environment Day event at Albriki complements NEOM’s broader vision of creating a regenerative economy, where nature and human innovationthrivesidebyside.
Conclusion
World Environment Day 2024 served as a reminder that global challenges require local action and leadership Through eventsliketheoneatAlbrikiandwithinitiativessuchastheGlobalLandInitiativeandMGI,SaudiArabiaispositioning itselfasachampionofsustainability notjustfortheMiddleEast,butfortheworld
As we move forward, the message is clear: restoring land, building drought resilience, and combating desertification are notoptional theyareessentialstepsinsecuringalivablefutureforgenerationstocome.
MEASLES AND RUBELLA VACCINATION: A PILLAR FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN SAUDI ARABIA
Introduction
Public health is one of the fundamental pillars of building sustainable societies, as a healthy community is able to learn, work, and actively participate in development. In this context, Saudi Arabia’s national vaccination program againstmeaslesandrubellarepresentsapracticalmodelofhowpublichealthcan beintegratedwiththegoalsofsocialsustainability
National campaigns target children and adolescents from 6 months to 18 years of age, within a plan to eliminate both diseases by 2028 in alignment with the World Health Organization These efforts have resulted in a reduction of infection rates by more than 85% between 2018 and 2022, reflecting the success oftheprogramandthecommunity’scommitmenttotheinitiative.
ImpactonPublicHealthandSustainability
The vaccination program goes beyond disease prevention; it strengthens social sustainabilitythroughseveraldimensions:
1 Protecting human capital: Healthy children are the future of society, and protecting them from infectious diseases ensures their proper growth, education,andcontributiontodevelopment
2.Reducing the burden on the healthcare system: Fewer infections mean fewer costly medical interventions, freeing resources to support other developmentalprograms.
3.Enhancing community participation:The success of the program depends on families’commitmenttoscheduledvaccinationsandraisingawarenessofthe importanceofimmunization
Sustaining public health, however, requires continuous efforts to guarantee universalaccesstovaccines,especiallyinremoteorunderservedareas
ChallengesFacingtheProgram
Despite its success, several challenges affect the sustainability of the program’s outcomes:
Parental hesitancy: Some families hesitate to vaccinate their children due to non-scientificfearsormisinformationaboutsideeffects.
Reaching remote areas: Certain villages and distant communities face difficultiesinaccessingvaccinationservicesdespiteongoingefforts
Spread of misinformation: Rumors on social media undermine public trust andweakenadherencetovaccinationschedules
Solutions and Recommendations for Strengthening SocialSustainability
To maximize the program’s impact and ensure sustainability,thefollowingstrategiesarerecommended:
1.Enhancingcommunityawareness:
Disseminating accurate information through officialchannelsandtrustedmedia.
Engaging schools and local institutions in awarenesscampaigns
Collaborating with local influencers to deliver relatablemessages
2 Improvingaccessandcoverage:
Deploying mobile vaccination units to reach remoteareas.
Integrating vaccination with educational and socialservicestoeaseaccess.
Closely monitoring data to identify and address low-coverageregions
3 Combatingmisinformation:
Monitoring social media platforms and respondingswiftlytorumors
Providing official platforms to answer frequently askedquestionsinclear,simplelanguage.
4.Strengtheningcommunitycommitment:
Encouraging families to adhere to vaccination schedules.
Involving volunteers and local communities in awarenessactivities.
Organizing short workshops to demonstrate the safetyandbenefitsofvaccines
RoleofthePrograminSustainability
This program illustrates how health policies can become part of social sustainability. Protecting communities from infectious diseases preserves human capital, reduces strainonhealthcareresources,andsupportseconomicand social growth. It also highlights the significance of community participation and health awareness in achievinglong-termsustainabledevelopmentgoals
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia’s measles and rubella vaccination program demonstrates how public health can integrate with social sustainability. Protecting children, enhancing community participation, and advancing public health are all essential elementsofbuildingasustainablesociety.
Vaccination is not just a medical intervention it is an investment in the future of society, supporting quality of life and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s vision for sustainabledevelopment
COLOUR THE DESERT SUSTAINABLE
What began as the Global Green Movement has expanded into a full spectrum of colours. Sustainability is painting the earth’s canvas with vibrant colours, with each shade telling a story of renewal, responsibility, and hope. Every day, we come across a differently coloured sustainability concept ranging from green financing to blue, brown & orange bonds Whether it is the plains, mountains, or deserts, various sustainable development initiatives are transforming the carbondependent economies into thriving hubs of social, environmental, and economic vitality
The time has come when the deserts are made the canvas for the sustainability palette,andtheKingdomofSaudiArabia(KSA)hasstartedthestrategicjourney towards colouring the desert sustainably. Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), representing an investment of more than US$186 billion, encompasses approximately 77 sustainability-related initiatives aimed at achieving environmental, social, and economic stability across the region The synergistic blend of public-private-partnership is aimed at colouring the KSA sustainable throughtheholisticintegrationofthefollowingstrategictools
Green:TheClassicHueofSustainability
Green has been synonymous with nature, growth, and sustainability since the very beginning. It embodies the spirit of sustainability and has branched off to integrate environmental consciousness into various economic sectors. The KSA is greening the desert by initiating a green transformation through renewable energy initiatives, energy-efficient housing, reforestation, pollution control, and clean transportation The country’s net-zero emission target has been set for 2060, fostered by the creation of 587 GWof renewable energy capacity by 2030 throughprojectslikeSudairSolarPVandDumatAlJandalWindFarm
KSA is leading the green revolution through groundbreaking initiatives like the NEOM green city. The NEOM hydrogen facility, a $500 billion investment, is theworld'slargesthydrogenfacilitypoweredentirelybyrenewableenergyandis aimed at reducing 5 million tonnes of CO emissions annually. The Vision 2030 paints a green KSA by planning to plant 10 billion trees and to protect 30% of the country’s land and sea The KSA green revolution is largely being funded through Green Sukuk According to industry reports, in the first quarter of 2025, global ESG Sukuk issuance was USD 43 billion, and KSA alone accounted for 64%ofthis,makingitthetopglobalissuerinGreenSukuk
2
The SGI and Vision 2030-based projects are increasing the demand for Green Sukuk,withmulti-billion-dollarGreenSukukbeingissuedforvariousalternative energyprojects.In2024,theSaudiElectricityCompanyissuedaUSD1.2billion green sukuk for renewable energy projects. The KSA green journey is based on the circular economy model, and the various waste management projects play an imperativeroleinthecountry’ssustainabledevelopment Thewaste-to-fuelplant launched by the Saudi Investment Recycling Company in July 2024 is expected to reduce 18 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year According to industry reports, the KSA’s waste-to-energy market value stood at US $4176 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 475% through2033.
The sustainability paintbrush does not stop at greening the land resources and continues towards revitalizing the blue economy. The KSA is developing desalination and advanced water management technologies to address the water scarcity and secure the national water supply. Under the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy, 48 initiatives have been planned to create a synergistic blend of governance, economic, environmental, social, and security development This Blue economic model plans to increase the share of the Red Sea region in the country’s renewable energy mix by 50% by the year 2030 Taking the leadership position in the blue sustainability landscape, KSA has taken over the leadership of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) for the 2025–2027 period, making it the first Middle Eastern country to chair this global coral conservationbody.
Thenationalauthoritieshaveplannedtoplant100million mangroves in the coming years, scaling up from millions already planted and restored Under the KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI), a pilot nursery is currently operating along NEOM’s coastline, producing 40,000 corals annually. Various stakeholders are working towards adapting Regenerative Tourism that extends beyond preserving marine resources and proactively enhancing blue ecosystems and connected communities. This concept has long-term positive impacts on the country’s economic, social, and environmental fronts simultaneously The KSA is an attractive market for the issuance of Blue Sukuk, Shariah-compliant bonds, aimed at financing various blue economy projects, including but not limited to marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, andcleanoceanenergy.
Orange:TheColourofSocialEquity
The beauty of the sustainability concept lies in the holistic integration and achievement of economic, environmental, and social benefits It is anchored on the ideology of environmental & economic stability through social justice Therefore, the canvas of sustainability would be incomplete without the orange colour symbolising social equity. Orange Finance and orange bonds involve funding social initiatives, including education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and equitable access to basic services. As opposed to the earlierdiscussionregardinghowtoachievesustainability, this aspect of sustainability additionally focuses on who benefits from the various green and blue initiatives The sustainable development of a country’s green and blue economy is incomplete without the achievement of critical social indicators such as inclusive education, fair labour practices, gender equality, and equal employment opportunities.
The KSAhas come a long way towards the achievement of gender equity, financial inclusion, and social justice The current level of unemployment lies at 39% with female workforce participation doubled to 362% by the year 2024. According to the state reports, women now own 45% of the country’s SMEs and more than 78,000 women hold leadership positions across various organizations, an indication of the country’s commitment to inclusive economic growth. Social sustainability initiatives have fostered a more equitable, diverse, and resilientsocialfabricacrossthecountry
TheSpectrumofSustainability
As the world embraces sustainability, the ideology is spreading its wings and encompassing a growing array of vibrant colours with each passing day. Yellow bonds are being issued for renewable energy projects, and red financing is being used to describe emergency funding for climate disasters, such as wildfires, earthquakes, or floods
Brown:JustGreenTransformation
It is important to understand that the concept of sustainability does not mean the closing of brown or carbon-intensive sectors rather it focuses on financing their green, blue, and orange transformation. For example, retrofitting a coal-fired power plant with carbon capture technology or helping oil companies invest in clean energy alternatives In the context of an oil-based economy such as the KSA, brown-to-green transition bonds or transition finance is an emerging and critical area Transition bonds are financial instruments that fund the sustainable transformation of a carbon-intensive economic sector and achieve net-zero. The KSA has focused on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects for sectors that cannot be decarbonized quickly. Brown symbolizes shrinking the existing carbon base while the economy gets time for a sustainable transformation The challenge exists in decarbonizing heavy industry and oil & gas without derailing jobs and energy security, and this is where the rest of the sustainabilityspectrumplaysanimportantrole
Thecoloursofsustainabilityarenotjustsymbolic;rather, they signal a shift in our personal and professional ideologies. We are facing a climate crisis, but if looked at through the lens of sustainability, we have enormous economic opportunities Allah has blessed us with a world filled with wonderful colours, and it is time we put all the colours that we turned black back into the Earth’s canvas Let us paint wisely Together, we can create a sustainable planet for our future generations Let us all jointogethertoColourOurEarthSustainable.
GREEN HYDROGEN: FUEL OF THE FUTURE AND SAUDI ARABIA’S OPPORTUNITY
TO LEAD THE GREEN REVOLUTION
1.Introduction
Green hydrogen is rapidly becoming one of the most promising clean energy solutions for a carbon-neutral world Unlike grey or blue hydrogen, green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, meaning it emits zero greenhouse gases during productionoruse
For Saudi Arabia, which has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, green hydrogen represents a unique opportunity. It aligns withVision 2030 goals to diversify the economy, reduce oil dependence, and lead global sustainability efforts. More than just a fuel, green hydrogen could become the cornerstoneofacleanandresilientSaudieconomy.
2.WhyGreenHydrogenMatters
Green hydrogen stands out among renewable energy carriers because of its flexibility and storage potential Once produced, it can be stored in tanks, transported through pipelines, or converted back into electricity or synthetic fuels.Keybenefitsinclude:
Zeroemissionswhenusedinfuelcellsorburned.
High energy density, making it suitable for heavy duty transport like trucks, ships,andevenaircraft.
Versatile industrial uses, replacing fossil fuels in sectors like steel, cement, andchemicalproduction
According to the International EnergyAgency (IEA), green hydrogen could help avoid up to 830 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually if adopted at scale in globalindustries Thismakesitacentralplayeringlobalclimatestrategies
3.SaudiArabia’sGreenHydrogenAmbitions
Saudi Arabia is not just observing the hydrogen revolution it is investing in leading it. The flagship project is the NEOM Helios Green Fuels Project, a $5 billion partnership betweenACWAPower,Air Products, and NEOM. Scheduled to begin operations in 2026, this facility aims to produce 650 tons of green hydrogen per day, powered entirely by solar and wind farms in northwest Saudi Arabia
InadditiontoHelios,SaudiArabiais:
Signing bilateral hydrogen agreements with countries like Germany, Japan, andSouthKorea.
Launching a National Hydrogen Strategy to guide investment, R&D, and infrastructureplanning.
Supporting hydrogen-ready ports and logistics hubs to facilitate exports, particularlytoEuropeandAsia
The Kingdom’s natural advantages abundant sunlight, large uninhabited land, strong capital, and established energy infrastructure make it one of the most competitivelypositionedcountriesforlargescalegreenhydrogenproduction
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water (H₂O) into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity in a device called an electrolyzer.Thereareseveraltypesofelectrolyzers:
Alkaline Electrolyzers: the most mature and widely usedtechnology;reliableandcost-effective
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyzers: offer faster response times and are suitable for fluctuating renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOE): still under development but potentially more efficient at high temperatures.
The main challenge is the cost: producing one kilogram of green hydrogen is currently 23 times more expensive than grey hydrogen (made from natural gas) However, costs are expected to decline by up to 60% by 2030 as technology advancesandrenewableenergybecomescheaper
5.GlobalComparisons:HowSaudiArabiaStandsOut
While other countries are advancing in hydrogen, Saudi Arabia’sscaleandconditionsgiveitastrategicedge:
Germany has invested heavily in hydrogen imports due tolimiteddomesticrenewablecapacity
Australia is building export hubs using solar and wind, similartoSaudiArabia
Japan and South Korea are focusing on importing hydrogen to fuel their domestic transport and industrial sectors.
Unlike many of these countries, Saudi Arabia can produce cheap renewable electricity at scale, making its green hydrogenmorecompetitiveintheglobalmarket.
6.ChallengesandOpportunities
Keychallengesremain:
Infrastructure: There is a need to build pipelines, storagetanks,exportterminals,andrefuelingstations.
Policy frameworks: International standards and regulationsforhydrogentradearestilldeveloping.
Skilled workforce: Engineers, technicians, and researchers need specialized training in hydrogen systems
Yet, each challenge presents an opportunity for local innovation and job creation With Vision 2030 encouraging investment in technology, the hydrogen sector could provide tens of thousands of new jobs over the coming decades.
7.TheRoleofYouthandEngineers
Saudi students and young professionals have a critical role to play in the green hydrogen transition. Their involvement canshapethefuturethrough:
Academic research in electrochemistry, fuel cell design,andenergysystemsintegration University programs that focus on sustainability, renewable energy engineering, and environmental science
Innovation incubators supporting startups focused on cleanhydrogenproduction,safety,andtransport. Student-led initiatives, such as green energy clubs or research symposiums, can also increase public awareness and engagement. By embracing this challenge, the youth of Saudi Arabia can help the Kingdom become a global sustainabilityleader
8.Conclusion
Green hydrogen is more than just an energy solution it is a strategic opportunity for Saudi Arabia to lead the global transitiontowardsustainability.
Through visionary investments, natural advantages, and an empowered young generation, the Kingdom has everything it needs to become the world’s premier producer and exporterofgreenhydrogen
This isn’t just about meeting climate targets it’s about buildingaresilient,diverse,andfuture-readyeconomy.
References:
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2022). Green hydrogen:Aguidetopolicymaking.https://www.irena.org NEOM.(2025).HeliosGreenFuelsProject.https://www.neom.com Saudi Green Initiative. (2025). Saudi’s path to net-zero by 2060. https://www.greeninitiatives.gov.sa
International Energy Agency (IEA). (2023). Global Hydrogen Review.https://www.iea.org/reports/global-hydrogen-review-2023
TRANSFORMING MINA: PIONEERING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
ENHANCED
PILGRIM COMFORT AND SAUDI ARABIA'S SUSTAINABLE HAJJ FUTURE
The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, represents one of humanity's most profound spiritual journeys, drawing millions from across the globe. It is a spectacle of faith, unity, and resilience, with pilgrims undertaking rigorous rituals, many of which unfold within the open, often scorching, landscapes of the holy sites Among these, Mina stands as a pivotal yet particularly challenging location While Arafah is noted for its comparatively greener expanse, Mina is largely characterized by a dense urban (tents) fabric and a notable scarcity of vegetation This stark difference contributes significantly to an environmental challenge that directly impacts the well-being ofeverypilgrim:theUrbanHeatIsland(UHI)effect.
The Saudi government, driven by the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, aims to substantially increase the number of pilgrims. This expansion brings into sharp focus the critical need for robust crowd management and, crucially, mitigation of environmental stressors, particularly extreme heat As our understanding of climate change deepens, so too does the urgency to integrate sustainable solutions into the very fabric of these sacred journeys Pioneering green infrastructure in Mina is not merely an aesthetic enhancement, it is a strategic imperative for pilgrim comfort, public health, and the realization of Saudi Arabia'ssustainablefutureforHajj.
Author: WaelGalal
The Urban Heat Island phenomenon is a well-documented global issue, signifying elevated air and land surface temperatures in urban areas when contrasted with adjacent ruralsurroundings Itsintensificationisprimarilyaresultof human-induced alterations to natural landscapes, which lead to significant atmospheric and thermophysical adjustments In Makkah, particularly within the built environment of Mina, this effect is acutely felt Land Surface Temperature (LST) data, derived from Earth observation technologies like Landsat 9, revealed that the mean LST in Mina stands at 35.87 °C, a concerning figure given that the threshold for UHI generation is identified at 39 °C.While lower thanArafah's average LSTof 38.59 °C, Mina's specific characteristics make its heat challenge uniquelypressing
A key factor contributing to high LSTs is the absence of natural vegetation It is clearly that a weak and positive correlation between LST and the vegetation in Mina. This starkly contrasts with Arafah, where LST and vegetation show a strong negative correlation, meaning more vegetation leads to lower temperatures. This scientific evidence underscores Mina's vulnerability, without the natural cooling provided by plants, its surfaces absorb and radiatemoreheat
Furthermore, the materials used in built-up areas play a significant role The dense urban structures, particularly those constructed with dark materials, act as heat sinks, absorbing more solar radiation and retaining heat throughout the day. As pilgrims navigate the dense pedestrian networks within Mina, often amidst unshaded paths and structures, they are directly exposed to these exacerbatedthermalconditions
The consequences for pilgrims are dire Increased temperatures directly precipitate heat-related illnesses and untimely mortality within urban environments During mass gatherings like Hajj, ensuring the thermal comfort of millions becomes a monumental task. Improving walkability, a critical aspect of sustainable urban design with health, economic, and environmental benefits, is severely impeded by extreme heat events. The current conditionsinMina,therefore,notonlyposehealthrisksbut also diminish the comfort and ease of the spiritual journey, which is precisely what the Saudi government aims to enhance
Cultivating
Coolness: The Promise of Green Infrastructure
The solution, while challenging, is rooted in a natural and scientifically proven approach, extensive implementation of green infrastructure The presence of vegetation and the use of white roofs in built-up areas reduces the LST level This principle, so evident in Arafah where large areas of vegetationplayanimportantroleinthereductioninsurface temperature, as proven, must be strategically applied to Mina.
Greeninfrastructureencompassesaspectrumofnaturaland semi-natural systems designed to mimic natural processes and provide environmental benefits. For Mina, considering its unique constraints of high pilgrim density and limited open space, this would necessitate innovative and multidimensionalapproaches:
1 Strategic Tree Planting and Shading Structures: While large forests might be impractical, strategic planting of mature, shade-providing trees along key pedestrian pathways and gathering areas can significantly reduce ground-level temperatures. Even scattered trees, especially those with dense canopies, can make a substantial difference Combined with thoughtfully designed, possibly retractable, shading structures that incorporate vegetation, thesecancreatecoolermicroclimatesforpilgrims
2 VerticalGreeningandLivingWalls:Giventheverticality of Mina's permanent structures and tunnels, vertical gardens or "living walls" could transform heat-absorbing surfacesintocooling,aestheticelements.Thesesystemsare adeptatreducing surfacetemperatures through shading and evapotranspiration, while requiring minimal ground footprint
3 Green Roofs and Cool Roof Technologies: The massive tents of Mina, while offering some shade, can still contribute to heat gain Exploring lightweight, modular green roof systems on more permanent structures, or even applyingcoolrooftechnologies whiteorreflectivecoatings to the tents themselves, could drastically reduce heat absorption. The white materials used in the tent roofs in Mina absorb less heat, underscoring the effectiveness of reflective surfaces Extending this concept to other built surfacescouldbetransformative
4 Permeable and Vegetated Pavements: Replacing some impermeable, dark asphalt surfaces with permeable pavers integrated with low-lying, drought-resistant groundcover, or using lighter-colored, reflective paving materials, would allow for better water infiltration and reduce heat absorption. This also addresses the observation that dark surfaces such as asphalt can lead to a high absorption of heat.
5. Smart Irrigation and Drought-Resistant Species: Makkah is a drought region, making water conservation paramount. The success of greening initiatives would rely heavily on intelligent irrigation systems (e.g., drip irrigation, recycled water) and the selection of native, drought-resistant plant species that thrive in the local climate, minimizing water demand
ANationalMandate:HajjandVision2030
Beyond pilgrim comfort, greening Mina directly supports the broader environmental and sustainability goals outlined in Vision 2030. Addressing climate change is a core tenet, and diminishing the discharge of greenhouse gas emissions is a key mitigation approach. Green infrastructure, through its carbon sequestration and cooling properties, contributes to this objective The using Earth observation technologies can help in studying climate change, and this proposed greening is a direct actionable outcome By investing in green infrastructure, Saudi Arabia demonstrates global leadership in managing large-scale events sustainably and building climate-resilient cities. This aligns with the fundamental strategy for mitigating climate change involves manipulating the Earth's radiation equilibrium by managing both solar and terrestrial radiation, which green surfaces inherently do by reflecting more sunlight and coolingthroughevapotranspiration
TheHumanElement:EnhancingthePilgrim'sJourney
Ultimately, the transformation of Mina through green infrastructure is about people For millions of pilgrims, Hajjistheculminationofalifelongdream,aspiritualpeak. The arduous physical demands of the journey, combined with the intense heat, can detract from this profound experience. A cooler, more comfortable environment directly translates to a safer, more focused, and more spirituallyfulfillingpilgrimage
Imagine a pilgrim's journey through Mina where pathways are shaded by mature trees, offering respite from the sun Picture gathering areas where living walls breathe coolness into the air, and the ground underfoot is not radiating unbearable heat. Such an environment reduces the risk of heat-related illness, allowing pilgrims to conserve their energy for the rituals, rather than battling the elements. It enhances walkability, making it easier for individuals of all agesandphysicalconditionstoparticipatefully
Thepathforward,theincreaseinvegetationextentisnotan option due to limited spaces and the Hajj program for traditional large-scale afforestation requires ingenious and integrated planning. This means focusing on innovative greening solutions that maximize impact within spatial constraints, leveraging advanced irrigation technologies, and selecting appropriate plant species. The collective effort of urban planners, environmental engineers, and government bodies will be crucial in designing and implementingthesesolutions
Conclusion
Transforming Mina into a greener, cooler environment is a testament to SaudiArabia's commitment to its pilgrims and its bold vision for a sustainable future. By pioneering green infrastructure, the Kingdom addresses a critical environmental challenge, mitigates the impacts of urban heat islands, and directly enhances the thermal comfort and safety of millions This is more than an urban development project, it is an act of profound care for the faithful, ensuring that the sacred journey of Hajj remains accessible, comfortable, and spiritually uplifting for generations to come. The lessons learned and innovations developed in Mina will not only redefine the Hajj experience but also set a global precedent for sustainable management of mass gatherings in challenging climates, truly cementing Saudi Arabia'sroleasaleaderinsustainabledevelopment
COOLING TECHNIQUES FOR TRIPLE-JUNCTION SOLAR CELLS
Introduction:
The growing global shift toward renewable energy has intensified the pursuit of high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) systems, with triple-junction solar cells emerging as a leading technology due to their superior energy conversion capabilities However, these advanced cells face significant operational challenges, particularly in high-temperature environments, where issues such as thermal degradation, non-uniform heat distribution, and thermal runaway can drastically reduce performance and reliability Effective thermal management, therefore, is not merely a supporting function but a critical enabler of sustained efficiency and longevity in PV systems. In alignment with SaudiArabia’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes sustainability, economic diversification, and the development of clean energy solutions, this study holds significant national relevance. As the Kingdom intensifies investments in renewable energy infrastructure particularly solar energy, given its vast solar irradiance potential ensuringthedurabilityandefficiencyofadvancedPVsystemsbecomesvital AlignmentwithSaudiVision2030’sRenewableTargets:
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a strategic framework aimed at reducing the Kingdom’s dependence on oil, diversifying its economy, and developing public servicesectors.Acornerstoneofthisvisionistheexpansionofrenewableenergy sources, with a target of generating 50% of the country’s electricity from renewables by 2030. This ambitious goal includes plans to develop 130 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity, with approximately 587 GW from solar energy and 40 GW from wind energy [1] Integrating active cooling systemsintoPVinstallationsalignswithVision2030byenhancingtheefficiency and reliability of solar energy generation In the Kingdom’s arid climate, high ambient temperatures can significantly reduce PV performance Active cooling mitigates this issue, ensuring that solar installations operate closer to their optimal efficiency levels. Furthermore, the adoption of advanced technologies likeactivecoolingsupportstheKingdom’sobjectivesoffosteringinnovationand developing a knowledge-based economy. By investing in project and development of efficient cooling solutions, Saudi Arabia can position itself as a leader in renewable energy technologies, contributing to global sustainability effortsandeconomicdiversification[2]
Author: YousefAlmanzalawi
FundamentalsofActiveCoolinginPhotovoltaics
FirstLawofThermodynamicsAppliedtoPVCooling:
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but only transformed from one form to another
In the context of photovoltaic systems, this principle is directly applicable to the process of converting solar radiation into electrical energy. However, not all of the solar energy is converted into electricity; a significant portion is dissipated as heat. In PV systems, the increased temperature due to excessive heat build-up can lead to a reduction in efficiency and damage to the materials. Thus, active cooling systems are employed to reduce the temperature of the PV cells, ensuring that more energy is converted into electricity rather than being lost as heat
Active cooling systems such as liquid cooling, forced air cooling, and thermoelectric cooling are designed to reduce Q {out} by enhancing heat dissipation, thereby lowering the temperature of the module. These systems allow for a more efficient conversion of sunlight into electrical energy, improvingtheoverallperformanceofthesolarcells[3].
ConvectiveHeatTransferCoefficientsinSolarCells:
Convective heat transfer plays a significant role in the dissipation of heat from the surface of a photovoltaic cell
Convective heat transfer occurs when heat is transferred from the solid surface of the solar cell to the surrounding fluid (typically air or water), which then carries the heat away. The convective heat transfer coefficient h is influenced by various factors such as air velocity, fluid properties,andtheorientationofthesolarpanel.Forforced convectionsystems,theheattransfercoefficientistypically higher than that for natural convection, making forced convection systems more effective in cooling PV modules
Cooling methods like air blowers or liquid pumps can significantly enhance the convective heat transfer coefficient, leading to more efficient heat dissipation. Understanding the factors that influence h is essential for designing efficient cooling systems. Parameters such as the roughness of the surface, the flow regime (laminar or turbulent), and the temperature gradient between the cell surface and the cooling medium all play a critical role in optimizingconvectivecooling[4]
AnalysisofCoolingTechnique
Liquid-BasedCooling;Water:
In water cooling systems, water circulates through pipes attached to the back of the PV module Heat is transferred from the module’s surface to the water through convection, and then the heated water is directed to a heat exchanger or coolingtowerwheretheheatisdissipated Waterhasahigh specific heat capacity, meaning it can absorb a large amount of heat for a given temperature increase, making it aneffectivecoolant.
ActiveCoolingSystem:
Active cooling systems are critical for maintaining optimal operating temperatures in high- efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells, especially for advanced technologies like triplejunctioncells
ForcedConvectionDynamics:
Is one of the most widely used mechanisms for heat removal in active cooling systems. It involves the use of an external force (such as a fan or pump) to move a fluid (air or liquid) across a surface, enhancing the transfer of heat from the solar cell to the cooling medium In the context of PV cells, forced convection helps prevent overheating, which would otherwise degrade the performance of the cell Example: In a forced air-cooling system for a triplejunction cell, a fan or blower is typically used to circulate air over the cell’s surface. If the air velocity is high, the convective heat transfer coefficient increases, leading to more efficient heat removal. This is especially important when the PV system operates under high insolation conditions, where excessive heat buildup can quickly degrade efficiency Similarly, for liquid-based forced convection (such as water cooling), the thermal properties of the coolant such as high specific heat capacity allow for moreeffectiveheatabsorption
OptimizationviaActiveCooling:
By utilizing active cooling systems, such as forced convection or liquid cooling, the temperature of the solar cell can be regulated, preventing the temperature from reaching levels where the temperature coefficient results in significant power loss Cooling systems help maintain the operating temperature close to optimal levels, thus minimizing the reduction in power output associated with temperatureincreases
References:
[1] S. A. Ministry of Energy, Interviewee, National Renewable Energy Program:ProgressUpdate2023–2024..[Interview].(2024)..
[2] C. Scorecard, Interviewee, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Renewable EnergyInitiatives..[Interview].(2025)..
[3] A. S. &. A.-G. A. Hussein, "Thermodynamics of heat dissipation in photovoltaic solar modules: Implications of cooling systems," in RenewableEnergy,,(2019).,p.847–860..
[4] L. &. X. J. .. Wang, "Experimental investigation of convective heat transfer in PV modules for various cooling methods," in Solar Energy,, (2021).,p.294–304..
SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOUR: THE MISSING DRIVER OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Introduction
Environmental compliance is becoming increasingly important in SaudiArabia’s construction industry, especially as Vision 2030 drives large-scale development. Yet, despite detailed regulations and reporting systems, much of compliance remains paperwork-oriented rather than practice-oriented Reports may look perfect, but everyday site actions controlling dust, managing waste, preventing spills oftenfallshort
This article argues that true sustainability requires more than documentation. It requires sustainable behaviour consistent actions rooted in awareness, responsibility, and culture. In Saudi Arabia’s multicultural construction workforce, building such behaviour can have far-reaching effects: workers who learn environmental responsibility here will carry these habits into their families andhomecountries,multiplyingtheimpact
By introducing the idea of sustainable behaviour and analysing non-compliance through the lens of conflict resolution theory, this article explores what really drives compliance and how the industry can move from excessive documentation-driven exercises to environment friendly culture. Only then can construction contribute not just to growth, but to lasting environmental sustainability.
WhatisSustainableBehaviourandWhyDoesItMatter?
Sustainable behaviour refers to the daily actions and decisions that actively reduce harm to the environment and support long-term ecological balance Unlike compliance that is often reduced to checklists and documents, sustainable behaviour is about what people actually do when no one is watching For example, a site worker who carefully manages waste, prevents small spills, or controls dust on a windy day is practicing sustainable behaviour. These actions may seem minor, but they add up to significant outcomes when consistently adoptedacrossaproject.
In environmental psychology, such behaviour is described as “pro-environmental behaviour” habits shaped by awareness, responsibility, and social norms (Ajzen, 1991; Stern, 2000) Crucially, behaviour change is more enduring than externalenforcementbecauseitreflectsinternalmotivation Onceindividualssee environmental responsibility as part of their values, they carry these habits beyondtheworkplace,teachingtheirfamiliesandinfluencingtheircommunities.
Author: ZeeshanKhan
For SaudiArabia, this concept is particularly powerful.The construction sector employs a highly multicultural workforce, which means that the environmental habits cultivated on Saudi sites do not remain local Workers return to their home countries carrying awareness and practicesthatrippleoutward,creatingamultipliereffect In this way, construction projects become not just physical infrastructurebutalsoschoolsofsustainability.
The importance of sustainable behaviour, therefore, lies in its lasting impact. Regulations and paperwork may ensure temporary compliance, but only sustainable behaviour ensures that development today does not compromise the well-being of tomorrow It transforms compliance from a formality into a culture, which is the foundation of true sustainabledevelopment
What Drives Environmental Compliance in Construction?
Environmental compliance in construction does not happen by chance; it is shaped by a combination of external pressures and internal motivations External drivers are the most visible Regulations, client requirements, audits, and penaltiescreateaframeworkthatpushescontractorstoward compliance (Hilson, 2012) In Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 has elevated environmental standards, with mega-projects like NEOM and the Red Sea Global enforcing strict environmental management systems. External drivers are effective in ensuring that minimum requirements are met, but they often lead to compliance that is documentationheavy focusing on checklists and reports prepared for inspections rather than genuine environmental performance
Internal drivers, on the other hand, are less visible but far more powerful These include the attitudes, awareness, and values of managers, engineers, and workers When individuals understand the purpose behind compliance why dust control matters for community health, why waste disposal protects ecosystems, why spill prevention safeguards groundwater and soil they are more likely to act responsibly, even without external enforcement (Bansal & Roth, 2000) Internal drivers turn compliance from a burdenintoaculture
The real challenge in Saudi Arabia’s construction sector is that external drivers dominate, while internal drivers remain underdeveloped. As a result, compliance is often superficial. The way forward is to integrate the two: strong regulatory enforcement to set standards, combined with intensive training, capacity building, and incentives that nurture sustainable behaviour at every level of the workforce Only when internal and external drivers align can compliance move beyond paperwork to deliver genuine,lastingenvironmentalperformance
Compliance and Non-Compliance: A Conflict ResolutionDialectic
Non-compliance in the construction industry is often treated as a technical failure missing documents, unsafe practices, or ignored procedures But if we view it through the lens of conflict resolution theory, particularly Johan Galtung’s ABC conflict triangle, a clearer picture emerges (Galtung,1996).
The triangle highlights three dimensions: Attitudes (A), Behaviours (B), and Contradictions (C). In the context of environmental compliance, behaviour (B) the visible part is what we observe on construction sites: either compliant actions (safe waste handling, dust suppression, spill prevention) or non-compliant ones (ignoring minor spills,onlyreactingduringaudits) Butbehaviourisjustthe tipoftheiceberg.
Beneath the surface are attitudes (A) beliefs, awareness, and values and contradictions (C) the structural barriers, competing interests, and grievances between clients, contractors, and workers Research in organizational psychology shows that when negative attitudespersist(eg,seeingsmallspillsasinsignificant)or contradictions remain unresolved (eg, inadequate facilities, conflicting priorities), non-compliance becomes likely (Davis & Newstrom, 2002; De Clercq & Belausteguigoitia, 2020). Conversely, when attitudes are transformed through awareness and training, and contradictions are addressed through dialogue and fair resource allocation, compliance behaviour becomes sustainable.
This can be understood through the metaphor of a tree Roots represent the latent dimensions attitudes and contradictions hidden beneath the ground If these roots are nourished with knowledge, resources, and trust, the fruits behaviour will be sweet, yielding compliance that isconsistentandgenuine.Butiftherootsareneglected,the treewillbearsourorrottenfruits:non-compliance. Thus, compliance and non-compliance are not simply opposites but outcomes of how latent issues are managed. To achieve sustainable behaviour, the construction industry must shift from a narrow focus on paperwork and visible behaviour to a deeper approach that treats the roots of conflict Only then will compliance be more than a formality itwillbecomeaculture
Building a culture of sustainable compliance in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry requires a shift from reactive, paperwork-driven approaches to proactive, systemic strategies that address the latent roots of noncompliance First, enhancing awareness and shaping attitudes is crucial. Regular training, workshops, and site induction programs should not merely cover procedural requirements but emphasize the environmental and social implications of compliance. By connecting rules to realworld impacts such as dust-related health risks, biodiversity loss, or community grievances workers and managers are more likely to internalize responsible behaviours
Second, addressing structural contradictions ensures that compliance is practical, not aspirational. This includes providing adequate facilities for waste management, clear reporting channels for environmental incidents, and fair allocation of resources for mitigation measures. Transparent communication between clients, contractors, and site personnel helps resolve competing priorities and fosterstrust,reducingthetemptationtocutcorners
Third, monitoring and reinforcement should go beyond inspections and penalties Positive reinforcement recognition, rewards, and public acknowledgment of sustainable practices can strengthen desirable behaviour, while constructive feedback addresses gaps without creating adversarial relationships. Digital tools, such as real-timeenvironmentalmonitoringandreportingapps,can support these efforts by making latent issues visible before theyescalate
Finally, leadership commitment at all levels is essential Senior managers must model compliance and demonstrate that sustainability is a core value, not a bureaucratic obligation. By nourishing the “roots” of attitudes and structural conditions, the “fruits” of compliant behaviour become consistent, genuine, and self-sustaining. In the Saudi context, where mega projects like NEOM and the Red Sea developments set benchmarks, integrating these strategies can transform environmental compliance from a procedural task into a competitive advantage and a cornerstoneofsustainabledevelopment
References
Galtung,J.(1996).PeacebyPeacefulMeans:PeaceandConflict,DevelopmentandCivilization.SAGE. Davis,K.,&Newstrom,J.W.(2002).OrganizationalBehavior:HumanBehavioratWork.McGraw-Hill. De Clercq, D., & Belausteguigoitia, I. (2020). Reducing threats of non-compliance with environmental regulations: The role of values and supportive management practices.BusinessStrategyandtheEnvironment,29(6),2465–2477. Hilson,G.(2012).Corporateenvironmentalismandenvironmentalcompliance:Miningandthepoliticsofregulation.TheExtractiveIndustriesandSociety,1(1),20–33.
The "Your Story Matters" section of the Saudi Sustainability magazine is a compelling platform committed to sharing the experiences and initiatives of individuals and organizations who are driving positive change towards a sustainable future in Saudi Arabia Serving as a powerful medium for inspiration and education, this section features in-depth interviews, success stories, and thought-provoking narratives that shed light on the innovative solutions and sustainable practices being implemented across various sectors in the Kingdom.
From stories of individuals leading impactful environmental projects to businesses adopting sustainable strategies, "Your Story Matters" showcases the diverse range of efforts taking place to address environmental, social, and economic challenges in Saudi Arabia. It aims to create a sense of pride and motivation, encouraging readers to contribute to the sustainability movement and find ways they too can positively impact their communities and the environment. Through this section, Saudi Sustainability magazine reinforces the idea that every individual's story matters and plays a crucial role in shaping a sustainable future for the country
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