Gulf Cooperation Council countries are accelerating their shift toward renewable energy while strengthening climate resilience, according to the latest Climate Statistics 2024 report released by GCC-Stat, highlighting measurable progress across the region.
The report shows rainfall levels in 2024 rose by 49.4 percent compared with the long-term average between 1980 and 2010, pointing to evolving weather patterns. Despite this, temperature data collected from 23 monitoring stations indicates relative stability, with peak temperatures remaining below 49 degrees Celsius over the past decade.
Solar energy has emerged as a key growth driver. Installed solar capacity expanded at an average annual rate of 88.1 percent between 2013 and 2024. Electricity generation surged from just 0.13 thousand gigawatt-hours in 2013 to 23.5 thousand gigawatt-hours in 2023. Wind energy capacity also climbed sharply, increasing from 4.8 megawatts in 2015 to 567 megawatts in 2024.
Governments across the GCC have introduced advanced early warning systems using mobile cell broadcast technology to improve responses to extreme weather events. Climate change and adaptation topics have also been integrated into national education systems to build long-term awareness.
On the global stage, GCC countries have submitted 16 reports to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as of November 2025. Net-zero targets range from 2050 for countries including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait’s oil and gas sector, to 2060 for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and other sectors in Kuwait.
The report also notes a strong reliance on China for renewable technologies, with 99.4 percent of photovoltaic cell imports sourced from the country in 2024.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
