Saudi Arabia and the Circular Carbon Economy: From Vision to Implementation

This case study shows how the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) Index can be used to analyze a country’s CCE performance and enablers in a holistic manner and in a comparative context, relative to other countries. Saudi Arabia is an extremely relevant country to examine in this context given the centrality of the CCE concept in its climate change and energy transition policy. The paper aims to do two things: first, it provides an analysis of Saudi Arabia’s current CCE performance and its enabling environments for the CCE transition, relative to other countries. Second, it places this in the context of the Kingdom’s current policy targets and measures to understand its direction. By doing so, the analysis seeks to help inform the Saudi Government as it prepares its second Paris Agreement nationally determined contribution (NDC) ahead of the 2025 deadline. Overall, Saudi Arabia has already come a long way on its net-zero journey by developing and setting the CCE concept as the framework for the major transition ahead. The 2023 CCE Index paints a picture of a country that is already among the leading countries in the CCE in its region, with high ambition and significant potential to do even more.

Mari Luomi

Principal Fellow- Climate & Sustainability Mari is a policy-oriented social scientist who has been studying climate change, energy transitions and sustainable development policy in the…

Mari is a policy-oriented social scientist who has been studying climate change, energy transitions and sustainable development policy in the Gulf and globally for 17 years. At KAPSARC, she leads research projects on carbon markets and Paris Agreement Article 6, and on the Circular Carbon Economy Index.

She has worked for other leading energy, sustainable development and foreign policy research institutions, including the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (Earth Negotiations Bulletin), Georgetown University, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and the Emirates Diplomatic Academy.

Mari holds a master’s degree in political science and international politics from the University of Helsinki and a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern studies from Durham University.

In addition to a broad research publications portfolio, she has substantial experience in executive training, presentations, policy advisory, and reporting services for multilateral environmental negotiations.

Expertise

Climate Change Policy and Governance
Net-Zero Energy Transitions
Circular Carbon Economy
Sustainable Energy Policy
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measurement
Verification and Reporting
Carbon Markets
Paris Agreement Article 6

Publications See all Mari Luomi’s publications

The Circular Carbon Economy Index 2024 – Results

This case study shows how the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) Index can be used to…

14th November 2024