Countries in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) are adjusting their policies and strategies to meet global climate goals as below:

Egypt: Targeted Decarbonization and Water Security

Egypt Vision 2030 places climate adaptation as its top priority, specifically addressing its severe vulnerability to rising sea levels in the Nile Delta and deep water scarcity as below:

  • Mitigation Target: Cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 37% in electricity, 65% in oil and gas and 7% in transportation by 2030 compared to business-as-usual (BAU) baselines.
  • Energy Strategy: Accelerated its Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy to source 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, moving it forward 5 years from its original 2035 target.
  • Adaptation Measures: Upgrading national irrigation infrastructure to recycle agricultural wastewater and maximize water efficiency for reclaiming arable land.

Saudi Arabia: The Circular Carbon Economy

Saudi Green Initiative – SGI is leveraging its state revenues to pioneer a massive economic diversification and environmental pivot.

  • Mitigation Target: Reducing annual carbon emissions by 278 million tons by 2030.
  • Energy Strategy: Aiming to generate 50% of its electricity from solar and wind by 2030, this is backed with mega-projects, most notably the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project, designed to be one of the largest clean hydrogen plants in the world.
  • Adaptation & Nature: Combating desertification by launching massive land rehabilitation plans, with an active milestone targeting 450 million trees planted domestically by 2030.

Morocco: Green Growth and Weather Adaptation

Morocco NDC 3.0 puts it as a frontrunner in green growth within North Africa, building on its comprehensive National 2030 Climate Plan.

  • Energy Strategy: Operating the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant (Noor Ouarzazate) to shift its grid drastically away from imported fossil fuels.
  • Adaptation Measures: Constructing an extensive network of dams and seawater desalination plants to safeguard agriculture and cities against prolonged droughts.
  • Climate Finance Integration: The Central Bank of Morocco enforces strict physical and transition climate-risk screenings across its private and banking sectors to shield public finances from climate losses.
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