RIYADH: Middle East and North Africa countries are set to benefit from enhanced clean energy cooperation following an agreement between Saudi Arabia and the UN Environment Programme to accelerate emissions reduction.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in Riyadh by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, seeks to support MENA nations through the promotion of clean energy technologies, development of climate policy frameworks, and knowledge exchange to advance sustainable development, according to an official release.
The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Green Initiative, a regional platform launched to combat climate change and reduce emissions by over 60 percent from hydrocarbon production across participating countries. The initiative aims to cut 670 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 10 percent of global nationally determined contributions when first announced in 2021.
The ministry release stated: “The MoU reflects shared goals to enhance resource efficiency and lower carbon emissions through a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable approach.”
It added: “Areas of cooperation include policy research and recommendations, partnerships with international organizations, participation in climate and CCE-related events, exchange of knowledge and best practices, and the development of climate policy frameworks, supported by regional and global climate networking activities.”
During the meeting, the two sides also held talks over advancing the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
“The two sides also discussed Saudi Arabia’s climate initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, as well as other efforts undertaken by the Kingdom to expand renewable energy and reduce emissions through the Circular Carbon Economy framework,” the release added.
The MoU supports wider regional efforts to unlock renewable potential. MENA currently contributes less than 8 percent of global emissions from power and heat generation and is aiming to grow its clean energy capacity from under 50 gigawatts in 2022 to 200 GW by 2030, according to a June 2024 report by the International Energy Agency.
The IEA report also highlighted that the region — led by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Algeria — is experiencing the fastest relative growth in renewable energy, scaling at 4.5 times its current base due to ambitious national targets.
The MENA region holds substantial hydrocarbon reserves alongside significant renewable energy potential, positioning it as a strategically important player in the global shift toward sustainable energy, according to the Natural Resource Governance Institute.
Governments across the region are adopting a dual-energy strategy — leveraging both fossil fuels and renewables — to reduce emissions while bolstering energy security.
Enhanced regional collaboration is critical to developing interconnected energy systems, boosting economic competitiveness, and securing reliable access to international energy markets.
