In the desert country of Saudi Arabia, where you can find great sand seas, you can find a young population that values traditional attire and a strong cultural tradition of storytelling and poetry recitation. Saudi Arabia has also become known for its unique and futuristic project, NEOM, which has been applauded for its commitment to sustainability. Now, a new discovery has been made that puts the world on the edge of its seat, and total global disruption may be next in line if no one responds.
This is why Saudi Arabia wants to build this strange city
In 2021, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, launched a very unique and futuristic project called NEOM. The project will be situated at the Red Sea’s northern tip in the Tabuk Province in northwest Saudi Arabia. The project comprises the planning and construction of a sustainable city.
According to the project’s official website, the city will be powered by 100% renewable energy and will prioritize mankind and nature by generating a new model for sustainable living, working, and prospering. The project is led by the Public Investment Fund, which, along with local and international investors, has invested $500 billion in these distinct regions, which will feature the following sectors:
- energy
- water
- tourism
- biotech
- design and construction
- education, research, innovation
- entertainment and culture
- food
- health and wellbeing
- media
- mobility
- sport
- financial services
- technology and digital
Now, what makes this project so unique is that the city will be constructed in a 170km straight line, with all the buildings covered in mirrored facades to minimize their impact on the surrounding environment. The line design, according to Forbes, will maximize land use, promote efficient high-speed rail travel, and make the environment car-free. While The Line city sounds promising, a new NEOM discovery puts the world on edge.
A new NEOM discovery puts the world on edge
According to the Financial Times, the project will reportedly be delayed by six to twelve months after a discovery was made of the project’s potential impact. An acting chief executive placed the project under review, while Saudi Arabia faces low oil prices, decreased foreign investment, and wide-ranging development. The delay is necessary, as the discovery could potentially disrupt the Earth.
According to Donald Wuebbles, a University of Illinois atmospheric physics and chemistry professor and NEOM paid adviser, he raised concerns about the project’s Line city, ski fields, and islands’ impacts on local environments and weather systems, and he raised them more than once. The issue had recently been escalated to a “higher priority.”
The next problem could be global disruption
Wuebbles added that the devastating impacts could result in global disruption, as they could alter rain patterns and amplify wind and storms in the desert region. According to research, the city shapes and typical increased temperatures could change surrounding air currents and cloud formations. Researchers from institutions such as Princeton indicated in a study that urban areas have intensified summer storms.
Some of Wuebbles’ other concerns included the cement usage emissions and the slow transition away from traditional vehicles and machinery. NEOM developers argued that they use a binder in concrete with decreased embodied carbon, a committed decarbonisation team, and localised building material construction.
Another issue that the project faces is that NEOM will be producing more than just hydrogen, as toxic energy is also a result. While the overall concept of integrating advanced, renewable technology, human well-being, and nature is noble, this megaproject is the first of its kind. Careful planning, constant research, evaluations, and investment must be of top priority to ensure that this megaproject remains sustainable in order for Saudi Arabia to achieve its climate targets.