Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind one of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destination projects, released its fourth annual sustainability report outlining the company’s key commitments and progress towards achieving its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability goals. It confirms that the developer is steadily progressing towards its primary goal of achieving a net positive environmental impact of 30% by 2040.
The 2023 annual sustainability report details RSG’s commitments and achievements that year. It demonstrates the company’s dedication to enhancing transparency and accountability and its pursuit of setting new standards for responsible development globally. It highlights how the company is tracking its ESG goals. The report also underscores the significant progress made in all areas.
“Our latest annual sustainability report embodies our deep commitment to setting innovative standards in responsible development,” said RSG Group Chief Executive John Pagano. “We are making steady progress towards achieving a net positive environmental impact of 30% by 2040 in the areas surrounding our tourism destinations.”
“The work of our team in the areas of renewable energy, marine and terrestrial environmental protection, social development, and clean transportation demonstrates that tourism can be developed in innovative and sustainable ways. I hope this achievement will inspire the entire sector to adopt the principles of regenerative development in its future projects,” Pagano said.
The 2023 report outlined several accomplishments, including providing 100% renewable energy to power the initial phase of The Red Sea destination and establishing 150 electric charging stations for a sustainable transportation fleet.
Environmental achievements included the planting of over 5 million plants in the Red Sea Landscape Nursery, the sowing of 600,000 mangrove seedlings in four different locations, the initiation of a volunteer program to promote mangrove planting and beach cleaning with the participation of over 200 volunteers, the prevention of 46,350 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through carbon reduction initiatives, and a commitment to protect and restore coral reefs in collaboration with leading marine scientists.
The report also highlighted social achievements, such as the launch of the “Jewar” application to engage with the local community, share news and opportunities, and gather their feedback, as well as the recruitment of over 3,300 new employees, the graduation of more than 50 outstanding students, and the provision of nearly 74,000 training hours.
The Red Sea destination welcomed its first guests in the past year, with three of its hotels opening. The Red Sea International Airport commenced regular domestic flights in September 2023, followed by international flights in April 2024, with a weekly service between the Red Sea and Dubai International Airport.
The “Thuwal Private Retreat,” located to the south, is set to open in the coming weeks.
Additionally, efforts are underway to prepare to welcome the first guests to the AMAALA destination in 2025, coinciding with the completion of the first phase of “Triple Bay,” which includes eight resorts, Corallium, and the iconic Yacht Club.
Source: Staff Writer, Saudi Press Agency
The King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC) announced today its partnership with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) as part of its commitment to sustainable development and responsible business practices.
The signing ceremony, held at the KAFD Conference Center and attended by around 100 guests, including partners, tenants, and media representatives, marked this significant milestone.
According to KAFD, by joining the UNGC, the company has committed to upholding the ten universally accepted human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption principles. This strategic move underscores KAFD’s dedication to supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and positively impacting its operations and overall business.
KAFD also notes that it is committed to sustainability and climate action and has constructed energy-efficient buildings that achieve 10-15% energy savings compared to traditional structures. The central Wadi, a pedestrian zone connecting all areas, was designed to be cooler, maintaining a temperature 8-10 degrees lower than central Riyadh. Over 40 buildings in the district have already attained Silver and Gold ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’ (LEED) certifications.
Gautam Sashittal, CEO of KAFD DMC, expressed pride in the partnership with the UNGC, emphasizing their commitment to sustainable development and ethical business practices. By integrating UNGC principles into its corporate strategy, KAFD aims to meet global sustainability standards and make meaningful contributions to Riyadh’s socio-economic development.
The event, part of KAFD’s “Spotlight Series,” had a panel discussion on “The Role of Business in Advancing Sustainable Development,” showcasing KAFD’s sustainability initiatives and future aspirations. Key stakeholders came together to discuss collaborative approaches to achieve sustainable economic growth and environmental stewardship.
According to KAFD, its partnership with the UNGC through joining this global initiative aims to drive innovation, foster inclusive growth, and reduce environmental impact within the Riyadh community.
Source: Staff Writer, Saudi Press Agency
Magnom Properties, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Rawabi Holding, has announced a groundbreaking achievement for its upcoming Forbes International Tower, as it becomes the first tower in the world to officially register for the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification.
The new milestone brings Magnom Properties one step closer to delivering the lifecycle net negative carbon vision of the futuristic Forbes International Tower, planned in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
US-based ILFI‘s Zero Carbon Certification is a third-party verified, industry-recognised standard with some of the most robust sustainability requirements to verify the operational and embodied carbon emissions of a built project, and directly address the building sector’s role in the global climate crisis.
By registering for this prestigious certification, the Forbes International Tower, designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG Architecture) and set to be the world’s first net-zero-carbon tower, amply demonstrates its credible and comprehensive approach to carbon neutrality and sets new milestones in green design construction.
To meet ILFI’s Zero Carbon requirements, the Forbes International Tower is incorporating advanced building design, construction, and operation technologies. Fully non-reliant on the conventional traditional grid, the tower’s power generation comes from 100% clean resources. Clean hydrogen will provide 75% of the total energy demands of the tower while its photovoltaic-laced design utilises solar energy to deliver around 25% of the required energy to operate the building.
Osman Ibrahim, CEO, Rawabi Holding and Vice Chairman, Magnom Properties, said: “We are proud that Forbes International Tower has achieved this prestigious achievement in the real estate sector, which reflects the great work done by our global partners and team.”
“At Rawabi Holding, we draw inspiration from the natural environment that the countries in the region are known for, and this is reflected in our projects and services. Apart from using renewable materials, sustainable energy sources, and making efficient use of space and resources, we will also harness the potential of advanced technologies and innovation to create best-in-class sustainability standards for the Forbes International Tower,” he stated.
Maged Marie, CEO, Magnom Properties, added: “The tower is a pioneering experiment in the field of modern architectural engineering as it harnesses the potential of hydrogen to produce energy within the property. This is an unprecedented achievement in this sector, and a first of its kind in the world. The tower will also serve as both an incentive and inspiration for real estate to innovate and transform the way they develop their project infrastructure.”
“By collaborating with our global partners and targeting the highest global green rating systems of all building certifications, the Forbes International Tower is shaping a new era of sustainability in the region and globally. Aiming for the ILFI Zero Carbon Certification will not only accelerate our decarbonisation efforts and enable smart building outcomes but also set a global precedent for sustainable design at this scale,” he added.
Source: TradeArabia
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and Global Environmental Management Services Ltd. (Reviva), a subsidiary of Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) Group, signed an agreement today to establish a plant for recycling marine and industrial waste at Jeddah Islamic Port. The project, valued at SAR 30 million, will cover an area of 10,000 square meters.
The agreement was signed by Mawani’s President Omar bin Talal Hariri and SIRC’s CEO Eng. Ziad bin Mohammed Al-Shiha in the presence of other officials.
This initiative is part of Mawani’s efforts to promote environmental sustainability, ensure marine safety, and develop a sustainable maritime sector. It aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Green Ports Initiative, aiming to bolster Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics center and a hub connecting three continents.
The new plant will enhance waste utilization by converting waste into valuable resources, thereby promoting a thriving circular economy in the Kingdom. It will offer comprehensive waste management and recycling solutions, industrial maintenance services, by-product recycling, and transportation services, which will minimize waste generation and improve waste management operations while preserving the environment.
The collaboration between Mawani and Reviva will contribute to the Kingdom’s waste management goals as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and increase the private sector’s role in supporting economic growth. The initiative aims to position Jeddah Islamic Port among the top 10 ports globally.
Mawani is committed to launching pioneering initiatives connected to the Saudi Green Initiative, focusing on emission reduction and climate change control, while also strengthening public-private partnerships to enhance the global commercial appeal of the Kingdom’s ports.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
Wood, a global leader in consulting and engineering, has completed the front-end engineering and design (FEED) scope for the first phase of Aramco’s Accelerated Carbon Capture and Sequestration (ACCS) project in Saudi Arabia, expected to be the world’s largest carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) hub, upon completion.
With an ambition to further reduce carbon emissions from its upstream operations, the first phase of the ACCS project intends to capture carbon emissions from Aramco gas plant facilities near Jubail, on the east coast of Saudi Arabia, as well as from third-party emitters.
Wood designed the greenfield dehydration and compression facilities and the large pipeline network, including a 200+ kilometre dense-phase CO2 pipeline for the ACCS project, which aims to transport 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of emissions and sequester it within onshore geological storage by 2027. Aramco plans to store up to 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of CO2 equivalent by 2035 – contributing towards the Kingdom reaching its CCUS goal of 44 MTPA by 2035.
Craig Shanaghey, Wood’s Executive President of Projects, said: “We are proud to be at the forefront of designing the future of energy by leveraging our 20 years of experience in carbon capture engineering to bring the ACCS project to life, supporting Aramco as our long-term client on its energy security and transition ambitions.
“The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has underlined the significant role CCS can potentially play in helping to reach the 2-degree goal set out in the Paris Agreement, and it is investments like this world-leading project that can support that progress and make a tangible difference to reduce the carbon emissions of heavy industries.”
The FEED has been delivered by around 200 engineers from across Wood’s global Projects and Consulting business units.
Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Source: TradeArabia
Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technology, showcased its dedication to sustainable water management and climate resilience in the Middle East and Africa region during a high-level panel discussion held at the Stormwater & Wastewater Conference 2024.
Taking place in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the 28th and 29th of May 2024, the panel discussion titled “Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Fostering Effective Flood Risk Mitigation Strategies for the Kingdom” brought together industry experts, policymakers, and thought leaders to address pressing challenges in water management and flood risk mitigation.
Representing Grundfos in the panel was Abdulaziz Daghestani, Area Sales Director, Water Utilities, MENA and Country Director for Saudi Arabia, alongside other esteemed panellists including Paul Pring, Executive Director – Infrastructure & Community Facilities, Diriyah Gate Company, Saudi Arabia, Gerry O’Toole, Director of Water, Jacobs, U.A.E. and Nariba Gittens, Associate Director – Water, Middle East, WSP, U.A.E. and moderated by Dr. Mohammed AbdulJawad, Executive Director – Projects & Quality; Director of Communication & PR – Western Region, Project Management Institute, KSA Chapter.
During the session, Daghestani highlighted Grundfos’s innovative approaches towards developing sustainable solutions tailored to the unique challenges faced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Emphasising the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors, Daghestani outlined Grundfos’s commitment to partnering with local stakeholders to implement effective flood risk mitigation strategies and build resilient infrastructure that withstands the impacts of climate change.
Abdulaziz Daghestani, Area Sales Director, Water Utilities, MENA and Country Director for Saudi Arabia at Grundfos shared his thoughts following the event: “It was an honour to have participated in this panel with esteemed peers from our industry. This event was a crucial platform for addressing the pressing challenges our industry faces due to climate change. The insightful discussions and shared experiences from fellow experts underscore the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions in the face of escalating stormwater and wastewater challenges. Specifically for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, building climate-resilient infrastructure is imperative to protect our communities and sustain our economic growth. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is vital to a water-secure future. At Grundfos, we are committed to driving these conversations forward and implementing advanced technologies to help build resilient infrastructure and mitigate flood risks effectively.”
The following key takeaways from the panel discussion act as a guide for the audience of industry peers to enhance climate resilience across water-led projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region:
- Balancing immediate and long-term: The panellists discussed the urgency for implementing proactive measures to address the escalating risks posed by climate change-induced flooding. But in doing so, there must be a balance between immediate infrastructure upgrades and planning for long-term resilience. Emphasising the critical nature of infrastructure to state and economic success, the discussion also advocated for treating infrastructure security with the utmost priority.
- Technological innovation and data-driven application: All panellists raised the significance of integrating advanced technologies and data-driven solutions in developing resilient infrastructure models. They discussed the potential of new technologies, such as AI and VR, to enhance flood risk management. They underscored the role of data, with a strong emphasis on gathering extensive data to inform decisions
- Sustainable solutions for flood mitigation: Introducing sustainable and green solutions is crucial for mitigating flood control damages. Energy-efficient technologies and integrating renewable energy into flood management systems are important. Community engagement and capacity building also play a vital role in enhancing flood resilience and promoting long-term sustainability, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals for sustainable water management outcomes.
- Upkeep and maintenance: The discussion also discussed the rapid population growth demanding further urbanisation and expansion of city lines. The current infrastructure in urban areas may not require rebuilding. Instead, ongoing maintenance of any built infrastructure to ensure its longevity and effectiveness is a more economical and environmentally suitable route.
Grundfos remains steadfast in its mission to pioneer sustainable water solutions that contribute to a more resilient and water-secure future for communities worldwide. By actively participating in forums like the Stormwater & Wastewater Conference 2024, Grundfos reaffirms its commitment to advancing the global agenda for sustainable water management and climate resilience in the Middle East and Africa region.
About Grundfos:
Grundfos is at the forefront of addressing the world’s water and climate challenges, striving to enhance the quality of life for people globally. As a premier global provider of pump and water solutions, Grundfos is committed to upholding, safeguarding, and enhancing the circulation of water. The company achieves this through the provision of energy-efficient and water-saving solutions and systems across diverse applications for water utilities, industrial settings, and buildings. Operating across more than 56 countries, with an industrious team comprising over 19,000 dedicated employees, Grundfos remains dedicated to effecting positive change, one drop at a time.
Join us in our journey towards a sustainable future at: www.grundfos.com
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
The Alto Agency on behalf of Grundfos Middle East
Grundfos@thealtoagency.com
In a significant step toward safeguarding its marine treasures, Saudi Arabia is launching a groundbreaking project to assess the health of its vital ecosystems in the Arabian Gulf.
Led by the National Center for Wildlife (NCW), the project aims to create a comprehensive roadmap for protecting marine biodiversity and ensuring the long-term health of the Gulf waters.
NCW’s CEO Dr. Mohammed Qurban said in a statement that scientists will evaluate the condition of the coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests. They will identify both natural and human-caused threats to these habitats and develop strategies to mitigate these risks. Ultimately, the project will use the collected data to design a management plan for the conservation and restoration of the coastal ecosystems.
Qurban said that the vast Saudi waters in the Arabian Gulf, spanning over 27,000 square kilometers, are a haven for a diverse array of marine life, all supported by the rich ecosystems of the Gulf.
The project will ensure that these vital habitats continue to thrive for generations to come.
Source: Saudi Gazette
To enhance institutional sustainability, the Ministry of Economy and Planning launched the Sustainability Champion Program on the sidelines of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The initiative will advance the sustainability revolution across Saudi Arabia by fostering unique collaborations between leading companies in vital sectors, part of ongoing efforts to develop comprehensive and sustainable economic growth paths.
The program is also part of Saudi Arabia’s approach to confronting environmental challenges in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Under the program, distinguished companies, known as “Champions”, will support other entities to enhance their sustainability practices.
The program was officially launched, with senior leaders from 19 Sustainability Pioneers attending to promote sustainability in their operation.
The program helps in developing a collaborative ecosystem and best practices to unleash sustainable growth. The 19 Sustainability Champions will also commit to changing sustainability practices of three other companies within Saudi Arabia, in order to create a ripple effect that will multiply the impact across the economy.
It also aims to build local capabilities and provide companies with the necessary tools and techniques to improve their sustainability reporting.
The Sustainability Champions Program underscores the proactive steps taken by Saudi Arabia to enable sustainable development through collaboration.
As the world converged on Riyadh for this special meeting, the launch of the Sustainability Champions program represents a new step in global sustainability efforts.
Saudi Arabia continues its leadership and commitment to achieving a sustainable future, setting the standard for countries around the world around the Sustainability Champions program.
The 19 leading companies that have registered in the program: Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company, ACWA Power, SABIC, Ma’aden, Al Rajhi Bank, National Bank of Saudi Arabia, First Saudi Bank, Riyad Bank, STC, Mobily, Zain, Red Sea International, Roshan, National Housing Company, Almarai, Savola, Olayan Finance Company, and Al Sulaiman Group.
Source: Saudi Gazette
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) offers a range of smart solutions to support developmental sectors in the Kingdom by leveraging data and artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies.
The solutions include supporting national efforts aimed at preserving the environment and natural resources and achieving a sustainable future, in line with achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 targets. This stems from its role as a national reference for data and AI in the Kingdom, covering everything related to their organization and development.
These efforts are aligned with parallel efforts by SDAIA to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a leading country in data and AI, enabling investment, innovation, and the development of technological infrastructure.
SDAIA has dedicated its efforts to establishing the Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence in Environment, Water, and Agriculture in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. It aims to innovate sustainable solutions and applications using AI in the fields of environment, water, and agriculture.
The authority aims to build a data lake containing geospatial data and global satellite images from the past thirty years, as well as to conduct studies and research that benefit the environment, water, and agriculture sectors using AI.
SDAIA also aims to provide expertise in delivering AI solutions through various cases; working with historical, current, and future data; building and training national capabilities; and sharing knowledge across all AI technologies and tools.
Additionally, it focuses on developing sustainable use cases and solutions to assist the environment, water, and agriculture sectors in easily providing data analytics.
The efforts of the authority have resulted in the innovation of a life model based on AI algorithms. The model reads nine historical earth data sets to determine their correlation with the vegetation cover change index and predicts the change that will occur over the next 6 years with an accuracy exceeding 90%.
SDAIA also presented a range of cases that directly contribute to combating the effects of climate change, predicting desertification, and increasing vegetation cover to build a vibrant community with a healthy lifestyle and enhance the aesthetic aspects of the Kingdom.
Moreover, it has developed a data dashboard on vegetation cover change in the Kingdom, containing 6 billion data samples from the Normalized Difference Vegetation (NDVI) Index monitored from 1984 to 2023, and classified land into six types using satellite images.
SDAIA launched the “Smart Planet Program,” which is an intelligent platform for earth data that utilizes its historical data to build predictive algorithms. It has conducted studies, research, and design of several preliminary solutions for AI algorithms, sharing them with nature reserves and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
This aims to create innovative solutions to help leverage and sustainably exploit untapped resource potential, detect changes in vegetation cover, monitor and control agricultural crops, and monitor changes in water bodies.
To address various challenges using AI techniques, the Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with SDAIA, announced the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Center for Energy, which aims to leverage AI in supporting initiatives within the energy sector, contributing to achieving the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiative in reducing carbon emissions.
The center plays a pivotal role in developing AI and modern technologies in the energy sector, bringing together digital technology experts and energy experts into one team. It has also worked on developing a clear methodology to prioritize AI solutions.
Meanwhile, SDAIA is actively monitoring reforestation and green areas in Riyadh through the National Smart Cities Platform using satellite imagery.
This is aimed at building and training AI models and processing data to provide a visual representation of green areas in Riyadh, displaying the percentage of green areas compared to the total area.
It creates indicators for the top neighborhoods in the green areas index and develops an index that measures the percentage of green areas within Riyadh and Diriyah.
Additionally, it provides a tool on the National Smart Cities Platform specifically for displaying and monitoring green area levels.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
Acwa Power, a leading Saudi developer of power and desalination projects, has signed an agreement with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology for the establishment of a new clean energy and water desalination technologies development centre within the KACST campus.
The new ‘Clean Energy and Water Desalination Technologies Development Center’ aims to conduct studies and scientific research in vital areas linked to the clean energy and water sector, said a statement from KACST.
The key topics of focus include development of solar energy technologies, devices for photovoltaic power plants for extreme climatic conditions as well as energy storage technologies to support future energy networks and innovative technologies and materials for desalination membranes.
These are mainly aimed at cutting costs and emissions of desalination processes, as the center will employ artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies to enable research and achieve goals, it stated.
The new facility aims to boost the presence of Acwa Power within the complex of national laboratories and innovation oases to contribute to spreading the culture of co-operation and innovation between the academic community and the business sector, and to transfer innovative water desalination technology to various areas of the industrial sector, it added.
The joint centre in partnership with Acwa Power comes as part of KACST’s efforts to link technical products to the needs of public and private sectors entities, said Dr Saeed Al-Shehri, the Vice President for the Energy and Industry Sector of KACST, after signing the deal with Thomas Altmann, the Executive Vice President of Innovation and New Technology Sector at Acwa Power.
It will help achieve national aspirations for research, development and innovation by utilizing KACST’s laboratories, scientists, incubator programmes and technology accelerators to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies in the fields of water desalination and clean energy to reach the optimal energy mix that the kingdom seeks, stated Dr Al Shehri at the signing ceremony held in the presence of senior officials including Dr Munir bin Mahmoud Al Desouki, President of KACST, and Mohammad Abunayyan, the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Acwa Power, as well as Dr Talal Al Sudairi, the Senior Vice President for Research and Development Sector of KACST.
On the collaboration, Altmann said: “We are thrilled to embark on an exciting journey with an esteemed organisation such as KACST, as collaboration is key to our approach to research and development. The partnership aims to develop practical, market-ready solutions to address commercial needs with agility and innovation.”
“It also seeks to contribute to the local research and innovation ecosystem, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. Utilizing the collective expertise and resources of both organizations, the collaboration will focus on optimizing joint programs through the development of services, pilot plants, laboratories, and cutting-edge simulation and monitoring tools,” he added.
Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Source: TradeArabia
