Saudi youths want spending rise on green energy

A global survey revealed that 70 percent of Saudi youth want their government spending on renewable energy to increase, according Masdar company's e-mailed statement on Wednesday.

Masdar is a United Arab Emirates (UAE) government-controlled renewable energy company in Abu Dhabi.

Masdar's Gen Z Global Sustainability Survey involved around 5,000 youths aged between 18 and 25-years-old in 20 countries.

The survey also revealed that an additional 71 percent believe that both the public and private sectors are equally responsible for accelerating the adoption of clean technologies.

Saudi Arabia harbors the world's second biggest known oil reserves, after Venezuela, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Masdar's survey corresponds with Saudi's announcement this year of an initial instalment of 9.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy according to its Vision 2030 roadmap, as well as a 3.45GW target in the country's 2020 National Transformation Program (NTP).

The NTP also outlined steps encouraging close collaboration between the public and private sectors so renewable energy could contribute to the national energy mix.

Saudi Arabia is expected to deliver around 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy projects in the first quarter of 2017, adding to the Kingdom's installed 25 MW capacity.

In addition, the country's first environmentally-friendly metro public transportation network is currently being constructed in the capital Riyadh, expected to be operational by 2019.

The Riyadh Metro is also anticipated to serve as a national model for other cities.

Earlier in 2016, deputy crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud presented the government's "Saudi Vision 2030" strategic plan, targeting the country's elimination of oil export dependence.

The plan focused instead on investments in innovation and high-tech sectors such as green and clean technology in order to reach this goal.

Masdar's Gen Z Global Sustainability Survey was conducted by the international polling Penn Schoen Berland firm.

The survey focused on what youth worldwide aged between 18 and 25-years-old think concerning the environment, climate change, as well as sustainable and renewable energy.

sourc: Xinhua