Saudi Arabia has announced that the construction industry has five years to “green” up their business. Amid a massive construction boom, the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) has decreed that all companies must reduce their air, water and noise pollution in keeping with regulations approved in 2008.

 

While skeptics claim that the Kingdom lacks the regulatory muscle to ensure that, Saudi Arabia has introduced sweeping measures to bring the construction industry up to speed with international standards.

 

This move is particularly timely given the numerous construction projects underway, including the $93 billion King Abdullah Economic City. Faisal Alfadl, Secretary-general of the Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) said that all of the projects under this umbrella will be green.

 

“As Saudi Arabia grapples with constant growth, government and industry support is needed to ensure building developments adhere to USGBC Leed certifications and other global rating systems. We need national policies to ensure companies store and sort their construction waste responsibly,” says Alfadl.

 

“To complete their projects, all contractors, construction companies and suppliers must adhere to these global green standards.”

 

SGBP has offered to help PME meet its goals within the next five years.

 

Part of their plan to reduce energy use by up to 80 percent and water use by up to 40 percent, Saudi is renovating more 90,000 mosques throughout the Kingdom, Alfadl said.

 

The new regulations could definitely improve Saudi’s overall environmental impact, but a massive cultural change will be required for any meaningful nationwide paradigm shift.