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Total municipal water use in Saudi Arabia has been estimated at 2.28 cubic kilometers per year in 2010, or 13% of total water use. Agriculture accounts for 83% of water use and industry for only 4%. [10] Demand has been growing at the rate of 4.3% per annum (average for the period 1999-2004), in tandem with urban population growth (around 3%).
Saudi Arabia's high standard of living encourages fossil fuel based transportation. [1] Saudi Arabia has yet to develop a concrete public transport sector. [2] Therefore, private transportation is a major contributor to air pollution. Moreover, car usage and city life contribute to dangerous degrees of heavy metals in urban soils. [9]
Saudi Arabia is suffering from a major depletion of the water in its underground aquifers and a resultant break down and disintegration of its agriculture as a consequence. [2] [3] As a result of the catastrophe, Saudi Arabia has bought agricultural land in the United States, [4] [5] Argentina, [6] and Africa.
The Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture (MEWA; Arabic: وزارة البيئة والمياه والزراعة), is a government ministry in Saudi Arabia responsible for the achievement of sustainability of the environment and natural resources in the Kingdom. [1]
Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest consumer of oil in the world, even as it is the 20th largest economy and 41st largest population. [2] Saudi Arabia is located in the Persian Gulf region in West Asia. [3] The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprises about four-fifths (80%) of the Arabian Peninsula.
The Arabian Aquifer System is primarily located in Saudi Arabia but also in Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. [1]Starting in the 1980s, Saudi Arabia's rapid agricultural development fueled by government involvement and subsidies resulted in a large increase in water being drawn from the aquifers in the system, many of which are non-renewable. [2]
In November 2022, Saudi Arabia was hit by coastal flooding as a result of heavy rain. [1] The main affected area was the city of Jeddah in which two people were killed. [2] As a result, flights were delayed and schools were closed. [3] The main road to Mecca was also closed. [4]
The Persian Gulf region is known for its hot and dry weather, though heavy rains causing flooding have also occurred with greater regularity in recent years. [5] [6] Britain's Royal Meteorological Society stated that the likely cause is a mesoscale convective system. [7]