MUSCAT : According to the report, rainfall across the GCC recorded a sharp increase of 49.4 percent in 2024 compared to the long-term average between 1980 and 2010, pointing to noticeable changes in the region’s climate patterns.
Despite these shifts, data from 23 approved monitoring stations showed that maximum temperatures remained stable, staying below 49°C between 2012 and 2024, with no extreme spikes recorded beyond this level.
On the sustainability front, the GCC has made remarkable strides in renewable energy. Solar power capacity witnessed a significant surge, growing at an annual rate of 88.1 percent between 2013 and 2024. Electricity generation from solar energy rose dramatically from just 0.13 thousand gigawatt-hours in 2013 to 23.5 thousand gigawatt-hours in 2023.
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Wind energy also saw rapid development, with installed capacity increasing from 4.8 megawatts in 2015 to 567 megawatts in 2024, reflecting the region’s expanding clean energy portfolio.
The report further noted that all GCC countries have implemented advanced early warning systems through mobile cellular broadcasting technologies, strengthening their ability to respond to extreme weather events and safeguard lives and property.
In a move to build long-term environmental awareness, climate change and adaptation topics have now been integrated into school curricula across all GCC nations. Internationally, the region has reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, submitting a total of 16 reports up to November 2025.
GCC countries have also set ambitious net-zero targets, with timelines ranging from 2050, covering nations such as the UAE, Oman, and Kuwait in the oil and gas sector, to 2060 for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and other sectors in Kuwait.
The report highlighted a growing reliance on China for renewable technology, with imports accounting for 99.4 percent of the GCC’s photovoltaic cell supply in 2024, valued at $2.4 billion.
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