responsible consumption and production

In recent decades, Saudi Arabia has experienced a boom in the industrial and agricultural sectors, coupled with rapid population increase and urban growth. Such pace of growth in population and number of urban centers poses serious challenges at many levels, particularly with regard to waste management. The process of waste management, recycling, re-use, energy recovery and circular economy are important elements of the Kingdom’s approach to conservation of natural resources, creation of job opportunities, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and conversion of waste to energy. The Saudi Vision 2030 lists 4 strategic objectives that support and are in alignment with, SDG 12. These are:

Reduce all types of pollution (e.g. air, sound, water, soil).
Safeguard the environment from natural threats (e.g. desertification).
Improve the urban scene in Saudi cities.
Protect and rehabilitate natural landscapes.

KAU’s strategic plans are closely tied to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, for the sake of achieving the above goals. In this regard, KAU has been:

Focusing on the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns by trying to produce and consume less.
Investing in research and innovations around sustainable management of natural resources, reduction in food waste, and increase in recycling.
Managing and safe disposal of healthcare waste through sustainably environmental techniques.
Applying integrated strategic measures to improve management of all types of waste on campus.

Data Publishing

KAU frequently publishes and reports all events and data that are related to SDG12 as part of its strategy to monitor and control the sustainability goals improvement and as part of its alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

All the data that is related to SDG12 “Responsible Consumption & Production” is openly available and can be fetched from the below channels:

SDG 12 report2023 .pdf

KAU Efforts towards Responsible Consumption & Production

Here is a brief list of events and actions that are related to SDG12 and which are detailed in the SDG12 related reports:

KAU applies, within its premises, several actions & procedures that promote responsible consumption & production.
KAU has a set of centers and units to follow SDG12 related aspects and assure KAU’s alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
KAU engages in international conferences and research, with well-known international universities and research centers that tackle issues related to “Responsible Consumption & Production”.
KAU contributes to this critical SDG by publishing the related policies that raises awareness and encourage this behavior.
KAU follows SDG 12 regulations within its premises and implements procedures that would fulfill it.

The below areas explain, in details, how KAU is approaching this SDG while enhancing aspects related to Responsible Consumption & Production.

12.1: Publications in Responsible Consumption & Production

This focuses on research that is relevant to Responsible Consumption & Production, measuring clinical citations and the volume of research produced.

KAU has a significant 207 scholarly publications on Responsible Consumption & Production, a significant 48% of which are in top 10% Journals.

Click to Check KAU's Publications in SDG12

12.2: Operational Measures

KAU has defined the needed policies that are related to waste disposal, resources' reuse and plastic recycling, on its campus.

Check KAU's Operational Measures

12.3: Waste Measurement & Recycling

KAU executes the necessary tracking procedures to measure the different amounts of waste, whether the generated, recycled or sent to the landfill.

Check Waste Recycling Numbers

12.4: Publication of a Sustainability Report

KAU annually publishes its Sustainability Report in which it measures the progress being done on the SDGs. KAU also applies to THE's Higher Educations Impact Ranking which is based on the 17 SDGs of the United Nations, where KAU has been ranked as the number one in the Arab Region for the year 2020, and for 4 consecutive years.