The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is very well positioned to be a leader in renewable energy resources. There are many other competing energy resources which can also be utilized in the region, said an expert during a virtual event.
Eminent panellists shed light on the regional and local perspectives during the webinar organised by the EU-GCC Clean Energy Technology Network, the Environmental Center for Arab Towns (ECAT) and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM).
Mohamed Abdel Raouf Abdel Hamid, Sustainability Research Program Manager, GRC, Jeddah emphasised on the development of climate action plans in the GCC, energy transition pathways and focused on urbanisation in the GCC region. He highlighted the biophysical vulnerability that is the degree to which a physical system is unbale to cope with adverse effects of climate change and social vulnerability that is the measure of a society to adapt to hazards.
He pointed, the GCC region is very well positioned to be a leader in renewable energy resources especially solar and wind and there are many other competing energy sources which can be utilized in the region. “The Gulf region is well positioned to adapt as they have the financial resources, labour forces and different technological advancements. We have globally 40 types of energy sources like biofuels, different types of solar applications,” he said.
He said, in transitional phase, the region is very well positioned to transit to renewable energy resources, highlighting natural gas will play an important role in next 20 years according to most estimates. “Oil and gas results around 70 percent of the combined government revenues and are 95 percent of the region’s own need for energy. The outlook for renewable energy is very positive which on average is around 3.5 percent and there are different policies and measures to enhance energy efficiency,” he added.
Prof. Salvatore Carlucci, Coordinator of the Task Force on Built Environment, The Cyprus Institute, focused on regional frameworks for adaptation and mitigation measures and importance of regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East climate change initiative. He emphasised on energy transition and climate action in the region.
He noted, most frequent and stronger climate extremes are exacerbating the impacts of climate change, causing damages to infrastructures and buildings, disrupting livelihoods and local economies, destroying electricity and water supply systems and transportation networks, causing additional pressure on the health and welfare systems due to deterioration in human health and eventually resulting gin a further push to urbanization with increased migration from rural and coastal areas to cities.
