Abstract
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries approximately have 40% of world’s proven oil reserves and 21.7% of world’s known gas reserves. Low energy costs compiled with low taxation make it lucrative to foreign energy-intensive companies to operate in the region. Energy consumption in GCC has increased by 74% in the period between 2000 and 2010 and it is projected to increase by approximately 10% to 15% between 2010 and 2020. Embracing the general commitment by GCC states to reduce greenhouse gas emission (GHG) of United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has started the process of environmental awakening in the GCC countries due to its high vulnerability to the effects of climate change. This paper reviews the trends in shift to renewable energy with reference to GCC and also the co-benefits of investing in renewable energy. Solar plant and Building-Integrated Photo-Voltaic (BIPV) systems are the most invested projects. However in the long run, policies and strategies are needed to ensure the successful and larger implementation of mitigation objectives.
Highlights
With regards to the climate change policy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a trade bloc consisting of six Arab States of the Arabian Gulf (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) was created in 1981
World Energy Council (WEC) estimated that the total current CO2 emission to the planet caused by the GCC countries are not more than 2.25% (0.1% for Bahrain, 0.4% for UAE, 0.1% for Oman, 0.2% Qatar, 1.2% Saudi Arabia and 0.2% for Kuwait)
Renewable energy investments are increasingly growing in the GCC, primarily due to the awakening in the region to stem the faster depletion of finite oil and gas reserves
Summary
With regards to the climate change policy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a trade bloc consisting of six Arab States of the Arabian Gulf (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) was created in 1981. The GCC member states are the major oil and natural gas producing countries [1]. These member states are still leading the international ranking of climate-polluters. This paper reviews the trends in shift to renewable energy with reference to GCC countries with co-benefits of investing in renewable energy and suggests policies and strategies needed to ensure the successful and broader implementation of mitigation objectives
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