RIYADH: As World Environment Day 2026 focuses global attention on climate change, Saudi Arabia’s local story is being shaped by delivery: protected ecosystems, restoration informed by evidence, and solutions that can be measured and scaled.
World Environment Day is observed on June 5, and the 2026 focus on climate change comes as Saudi institutions highlight work aligned with national environmental priorities.
Prof. Ana Margarida Costa, chief sustainability officer at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, told Arab News: “Today, KAUST builds on this foundation by offering strong curricula in environmental sustainability, and a mission-aligned approach to research that develops practical solutions for clean energy, water security, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.”
Under the Saudi Green Initiative, the Kingdom has set headline targets for 2030, such as cutting emissions by 278 million tonnes per year. This includes planting more than 600 million trees, and protecting 30 percent of the country’s land and sea.
“The World Environment Day reflects the world’s commitment to protecting natural resources and advancing long-term environmental sustainability,” Costa said.
She added that KAUST’s work includes marine and terrestrial projects intended to produce field evidence that can support conservation and restoration planning in Saudi Arabia.
“In the Red Sea, our Coral Restoration Initiative is advancing large-scale coral restoration, reef resilience and marine conservation, helping protect one of Saudi Arabia’s most valuable ecosystems,” she said.
On land, Costa highlighted the Wadi Qudaid Experimental Station and Ecological Observatory developed with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.
“Through the SAUDINet initiative, KAUST and NCVC are also strengthening terrestrial ecology research, biodiversity monitoring and data-driven approaches to land restoration and carbon sequestration,” she said.
Costa added that universities can help advance sustainability by collaborating across the higher-education sector, engaging communities and inspiring younger generations through science, in support of the Kingdom’s long-term environmental goals.
Ali Al-Tumayhi, an environmental engineer, told Arab News that the most practical gains in a hot-climate country come from cutting cooling demand alongside adding clean power.
“Solar energy can provide cleaner electricity, while improving building insulation and energy performance can significantly reduce cooling demand and maximize the benefits of clean energy.”
He said that choosing lower-impact refrigerants can deliver an additional climate benefit.
“The Kigali Amendment has demonstrated that sustainable cooling can contribute to both ozone protection and climate mitigation by promoting lower global warming potential refrigerants.”
The Kigali Amendment, adopted in 2016, is an international, legally binding treaty to the Montreal Protocol designed to gradually phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons.
Al-Tumayhi added that pairing solar power with efficient buildings and cleaner cooling could cut emissions and support Saudi Vision 2030.
