Publications

Integrating Fairness Principles into Global Net-Zero Targets A Systematic Exploration of Fair Climate Policy

Puneet Kamboj, Raphael Apeaning, Mohamad Hejazi

Equity is a cornerstone of international climate policy, yet operationalizing “fair” burden-sharing remains challenging. Here we present a comprehensive effort-sharing framework that systematically spans a broad spectrum of principles, rather than limiting analysis to a few discrete definitions, to allocate…

Puneet Kamboj

Apeaning, Raphael

Hejazi, Mohamad

Limiting Carbon Dioxide Removal Could Exacerbate Global Economic Inequality

Raphael Apeaning, Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi

The Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (°C), and ideally 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels, places significant emphasis on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. However, the global landscape for CDR deployment remains uneven, with…

Apeaning, Raphael

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Progress and Gaps in the Adoption of Clean Cooking Fuels in Africa – Policy Options for Ghana and Kenya

Fateh Belaïd, Mohamad Hejazi

Access to clean cooking fuels is vital for public health, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the key barriers to adopting clean cooking fuels in Ghana and Kenya, asking. Despite progress in urban areas toward…

Belaïd, Fateh

Hejazi, Mohamad

Decarbonizing Land-Based Passenger Transport in Saudi Arabia

Yagyavalk Bhatt, Puneet Kamboj, Anvita Arora, Mohamad Hejazi

The Saudi government has outlined its decarbonization strategy through various statements and reports, identifying key initiatives, preferred technologies, and investment targets to drive this transformation. In this study, we employ Integrated Assessment Modeling (IAM) to evaluate the long-term impacts of…

Bhatt, Yagyavalk

Puneet Kamboj

Arora, Anvita

Hejazi, Mohamad

Carbon Dioxide Utilization in the Desalination Sector in Saudi Arabia: An Opportunity for Achieving Negative Emissions

Naser Odeh, Julian Hunt, Mohamad Hejazi, Thomas Gertin, Yara Elborolosy, Yoshihide Wada

The global pursuit of sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change has intensified, necessitating innovative approaches that transform traditional carbon-intensive industries into potential carbon sinks. Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is a key tool for achieving net-zero targets by 2060…

Naser Odeh

Julian Hunt

Hejazi, Mohamad

Thomas Gertin

Yara Elborolosy

Yoshihide Wada

Key Drivers of Decarbonizing Hard- to-Abate Energy- System Sectors by Midcentury

Raphael Apeaning, Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi

To limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C, achieving a net-zero or near-zero greenhouse gas emission energy system by midcentury is essential. This ambitious target requires the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors, particularly transportation and heavy industry. This study employs an…

Apeaning, Raphael

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Assessing the Impact of Energy Transition Initiatives on the Policy Cost of Saudi Arabia’s Net- Zero Ambition

Raphael Apeaning, Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi, Yang Qiu, Page Kyle, Gokul Iyer

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goal to achieve a net-zero economy by 2060 offers a unique opportunity for diversification away from fossil fuels while fostering long-term economic resilience and sustainability. Crucial to this transition are energy policies that steer the Kingdom from…

Apeaning, Raphael

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Yang Qiu

Page Kyle

Gokul Iyer

Assessing the Potential and Feasibility of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Technologies in Saudi Arabia

Naser Odeh, Julian Hunt, Mohamad Hejazi, Yoshihide Wada

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strives to achieve its climate goals and transition its economy away from fossil fuel dependency, understanding the viability and impact of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) options becomes paramount.

Naser Odeh

Julian Hunt

Hejazi, Mohamad

Yoshihide Wada

The Path to 2060: Saudi Arabia’s Long-Term Pathway for GHG Emission Reduction

Science Direct

Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi, Yang Qiu, Page Kyle, Gokul Iyer

The Role and Deployment Timing of Direct Air Capture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Net-Zero Transition

Yang Qiu, Gokul Iyer, Jay Fuhrman, Mohamad Hejazi, Puneet Kamboj, Page Kyle

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2060. Direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) is critical for the country to meet its net-zero target given its reliance on fossil fuels…

Yang Qiu

Gokul Iyer

Jay Fuhrman

Hejazi, Mohamad

Puneet Kamboj

Page Kyle

Reaching Net-Zero GHG Emissions in Saudi Arabia by 2060: Transformation of the Industrial Sector

Yang Qiu, Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi, Gokul Iyer, Page Kyle

The industrial sector plays a crucial role in the economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Its energy consumption primarily relies on natural gas and oil due to the abundance of these resources and their relatively low administered prices.…

Yang Qiu

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Gokul Iyer

Page Kyle

Global Peak Water Limit of Future Groundwater Withdrawals

Nature Sustainability

Over the past 50 years, humans have extracted the Earth’s groundwater stocks at a steep rate, largely to fuel the irrigated green revolution of global agro-economic development. Given society’s growing reliance on groundwater, we explore `peak water limits’ to investigate…

Mohamad Hejazi

Achieving Net-Zero GHG Emissions of Saudi Arabia by 2060: The Transformation of the Building Sector

Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi, Fateh Belaïd, Mohammad Aldubyan, Yang Qiu, Page Kyle, Gokul Iyer

In this paper, an economy-wide, net-zero pathway that enables Saudi Arabia to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060 is investigated, with a specific focus on the critical role played by the building sector. An exploration is undertaken of the…

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Belaïd, Fateh

Aldubyan, Mohammad

Yang Qiu

Page Kyle

Gokul Iyer

Saudi Arabia Net-Zero GHG Emissions by 2060: Transformation of the Transport Sector

Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi, Yang Qiu, Page Kyle, Gokul Iyer

Decarbonizing the transport sector will likely play a crucial role for Saudi Arabia in fulfilling its target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2060. While clear and immediate low-carbon or zero-carbon alternatives exist in some sectors, the transport…

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Yang Qiu

Page Kyle

Gokul Iyer

Role Of LPG In Enabling A Just And Inclusive Energy Transition In Africa And The Arab Region

Fateh Belaïd, Aayushi Awasthy, Mohamad Hejazi, Radia Sedaoui, Mustafa Ansari, Sean Ratka

Globally, 2.3 billion people still lack access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking (CFTs) today, with an overwhelming majority residing in rural areas. Without a dramatic increase in investment and action for scalable solutions, 1.9 billion people will remain…

Belaïd, Fateh

Awasthy, Aayushi

Hejazi, Mohamad

Radia Sedaoui

Mustafa Ansari

Sean Ratka

Saudi Arabia Net Zero GHG Emissions by 2060: Transformation of the Electricity Sector

Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi, Khalid Alhadhrami, Yang Qiu, Page Kyle, Gokul Iyer

Under its Vision 2030 targets, Saudi Arabia is working to steer the nation toward a sustainable future. The Kingdom has recently amplified its sustainability goals, announcing its intention to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2060. As part…

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Alhadhrami, Khalid

Yang Qiu

Page Kyle

Gokul Iyer

Long-Term Decarbonization Pathway for Saudi Arabia To Reach Net Zero GHG Emissions by 2060

Puneet Kamboj, Mohamad Hejazi, Yang Qiu, Page Kyle, Gokul Iyer

Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement. It has updated its nationally determined contributions commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 278 Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) by 2030. In the lead-up to COP…

Puneet Kamboj

Hejazi, Mohamad

Yang Qiu

Page Kyle

Gokul Iyer

Implications of Climate Policy on Energy Poverty

Fateh Belaïd, Mohamad Hejazi, Puneet Kamboj, Fatih Yılmaz

This article examines the complex issue of energy poverty and its various dimensions, including energy access and affordability. It explores the challenges of addressing energy poverty and the trade-offs that may exist between energy poverty and climate change policy.

Belaïd, Fateh

Hejazi, Mohamad

Puneet Kamboj

Yılmaz, Fatih

Climate Futures Report

Mohamad Hejazi

Saudi Arabia, a country characterized by its vast deserts, unique geographical features, and rich cultural heritage, stands at the precipice of a transformative challenge: adapting to the impacts of a rapidly changing climate. As global temperatures continue to rise due…

Hejazi, Mohamad

Chapter 7. Energy and Industry

Mohamad Hejazi

This chapter examines the potential impacts of climate change on Saudi Arabia’s energy sector under a 3-degree world, with a focus on domestic energy infrastructure and its related economic and productivity impacts. Given that studies assessing such aspects are lacking,…

Hejazi, Mohamad