Key facts
- Oman aims for an absolute emissions reduction target of up to 33% between 2024 and 2035.
- An unconditional reduction of 7% in emissions by 2035 is committed.
- An additional 26% reduction is conditional on international financial or technical support.
- Oman's 2024 emissions were estimated at 93.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
- The country plans to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
- An investment of $31 billion is estimated for emission reduction efforts from 2026-35.
Oman has introduced a new climate plan targeting an absolute emissions reduction of up to 33% between 2024 and 2035, contingent on international support. The government has committed to an unconditional reduction of 7% by 2035 from a 2024 baseline, with an additional 26% reduction possible if external financial or technical assistance is received.
Oman's estimated total emissions for 2024 stand at 93.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The country has shifted its baseline approach to use 2024 figures instead of a business-as-usual trajectory. The long-term goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Strategies to achieve these reductions include expanding renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and sustainably managing land and water resources to maximize carbon sinks. The plan also outlines initiatives such as increasing waste-to-energy capacity, managing landfill methane emissions, and exploring the gradual adoption of carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) technologies in heavy industries. Green hydrogen is highlighted as a significant pathway for economic diversification, with targets for production set at least 1 million tonnes per year by 2030 and up to 8.5 million tonnes per year by 2050.
Despite these climate goals, Oman's economy remains heavily reliant on oil and gas exports. The government is pursuing economic diversification, aiming to reduce the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 16% by 2030 and 8.4% by 2040. In the fourth quarter of 2024, oil activities represented 32% of the country's GDP.
The plan details an estimated investment of $31 billion required between 2026 and 2035 to achieve the emission reduction targets, aiming to abate 30.4 million tonnes per year of CO2e across various sectors. A significant portion of the plan also addresses adaptation measures to cope with the impacts of climate change. Oman is particularly focused on water stress and availability, noting a warming trend with mean temperatures increasing by approximately 0.4°C per decade from 1980 to 2013. This submission marks Oman's third nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris climate agreement.