PHSSR Saudi Arabia 2025

cities in Saudi Arabia also record high PM2.5 concentration levels, with Riyadh recording 71 μg/m 3, which exceeds the acceptable limit of 10 μg/m 3 by the World Bank and 15 μg/m 3 set by GAMEP . However, the distinction between air pollution and degraded air quality should be noted as PM2.5 is linked to anthropogenic sources while PM10 is linked to natural sources such as sandstorms. It is also important to observe warnings from MEWA that available data on air quality are incomplete and unreliable, given the lack of source emission monitoring and inventory. Electricity generation in Saudi Arabia emits 703g of CO 2 per kilowatt-hour, exceeding the G20 average of 449g. Carbon emissions have fallen slightly due to increased natural gas use, but energy intensity has decreased more slowly than in G20 countries. Energy use is high at 253GJ per capita, but decreased by 15% from 2014 to 2019. The share of renewables in power generation increased by 1521% from 2014 to 2019, with the target threshold increased to 58.7GW by 2030. The country is currently intensifying its emissions targets and transitioning to renewable energy sources to align with global 2050 decarbonisation goals. National environment strategy and actions Saudi Arabia has implemented a number of changes to improve environmental sustainability and resilience. This includes restructuring regulatory bodies and establishing five centres under MEWA. National waste policies have been updated and revised, resulting in the establishment of the Saudi Waste Management Centre. The Saudi National Environment Strategy has developed sixty-four strategic initiatives and twenty- five key performance indicators to cover diverse environmental suitability domains. The Saudi Vision 2030 has introduced several initiatives to achieve environmental sustainability outcomes, including managing GHGE and climate change effectively (Figure 13). Through multiple initiatives, projects and policy areas, Saudi Arabia has sought to meet its domestic and international commitments to environmental sustainability. To create solutions, Saudi Arabia has set binding GHGE reduction targets for key sectors, including health, and pledges to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2060. Therefore, it is diversifying and transforming its economy away from oil to support sustainable growth. The approach is multidimensional and aims to reduce GHGEs through such initiatives as the implementation of programmes to improve energy e fficiency (e.g., smart meters and reviewing building codes and electrical appliance standards), developing public transportation networks (e.g., metro, buses, electric vehicles (EV) and installing EV charging stations), building and transitioning its renewable energy capacity, expanding desalination programmes, developing research, raising awareness, building liveable and sustainable cities and utilising carbon capture technology. As a result, initiatives and indicators have been implemented in multiple sectors to build environmental sustainability and resilience and to achieve national GHGE targets that are compatible with international standards. Among these interventions is the Saudi Green Initiative SGI, which encompasses the following three ambitious targets: five initiatives to reduce GHGEs by 278mtpa by 2030 (Table 9), twenty-four initiatives to plant ten billion trees across Saudi Arabia, and four initiatives to increase the protection of marine and terrestrial areas by 30% to ensure more than 20% of land is protected by 2030. 77 Sustainability and Resilience in the Saudi Arabian Health System The Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience