Decarbonizing the GCC: sustainability and life after oil and in GCC countries

Abstract

Energy transition and decarbonization in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 and global climate objectives. This article first highlights the serious impact of the imminent and longer-term threats to the Gulf region caused by rising temperatures and climate change risks. As a shared problem, the article analyses how countries in the GCC are individually and collectively responding to the rising threat, by exploring the recent revised 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions delivered in advance of Conference of the Parties 26, as well as climate and energy targets. On this basis, the article evaluates the legal strategies to decarbonize energy and switch to cleaner economies. The article also highlights how clean energy transitions can help deliver environmental and economic dividends, and achieve a sustainable economy envisioned in SDG7.