Our reflections on GCOM carbon offsets within Saudi Arabia

The announcement of the Greenhouse Gas Crediting and Offsetting Mechanism (GCOM) in Saudi Arabia marks a significant step in the country’s energy transition efforts. It builds upon the domestic market mechanism announced during the Saudi Green Initiative at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022.

Report authored by Nurzhan Kairbayev

But what exactly are carbon offsets, markets and credits? How can they help Saudi Arabia’s built environment sector? And what are the key enablers of an effective carbon market?

In the context of the built environment, the primary application of carbon credits lies in offsetting emissions. Download our report to learn about the application of GCOM within Saudi Arabia, and Buro Happold’s reflection on how different countries approach carbon markets around the world.