Muscat: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by establishing the Oman Sustainability Center based on the outputs of the Carbon Management Laboratory is an important step towards protecting the environment.
Carbon neutrality by 2050 is still achievable despite the energy crisis, according to a UN report. The report, which builds on the input from international experts and data scientists from across Europe, North America, and Central Asia, identifies a range of technology and policy solutions for the region to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 despite the current energy and geopolitical crises. It finds that investment in energy as a per cent of Gross Domestic Product would need to increase from 1.24 per cent in 2020 to 2.05 per cent per year from 2025 until 2050.
This values the investment needed at between $44.8 and 47.3 trillion by 2050, with any additional delay in taking action adding to the bill. As exemplified by the exponential costs of extreme weather events registered this summer and over the past years, inaction bears a much higher cost on society.
Carbon neutrality and climate change are the most important components of Oman Vision 2040. Industry, urban planning, energy, transportation, agriculture and health sectors have factored in these components in their strategies . It aims to achieve economic growth by sustainable use of natural resources and mitigate impact of climate change.
Achieving carbon neutrality will contribute to diversifying sources of income, creating opportunities for sustainable economic and social growth, reducing the repercussions of climate change, building a knowledge economy, benefiting from clean technology and creating a diversified mix of energy sources.
The Carbon Management Laboratory has identified the most important projects that will contribute in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy sources (solar, wind, green hydrogen). It also put focus on tapping biofuels, recycling waste, and improving energy efficiency of the electricity supply chain from production to transmission to distribution and consumption.
In the oil and gas sector, emphasis was on enhancing the efficiency of production and use of gas, reducing the routine combustion of natural gas, green testing of gas wells, reducing diesel use, sequestration of carbon and emissions control.
As for the industrial sector projects, the aim is to optimally use energy consumption, electrification of processes, deployment of renewable energy and hydrogen, emission control, waste recycling and promoting circular economy.
In the transport sector, the priority is promotion of electric cars, control of ship and airplane emissions, and exploring the possibility of biofuels and hydrogen as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel in transportation.
Building more smart cities with green buildings that use renewable energy is part of urban planning.
The Oman Sustainability Center will work to ensure the implementation of the national carbon neutrality plan for the Sultanate of Oman to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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