Saudi Arabian Environmental Laws June 2004 1. Introduction With the largest reserves of petroleum in the world, the Saudi Arabian oil and petrochemical industries are impressive in terms of their size and the revenues they produce. However, the scale of these industries exposes the country to environmental hazards - such as air pollution from carbon emissions, and land and water pollution from oil spills. Therefore, it is not surprising that environmental protection in Saudi Arabia is taken very seriously.2. Some examples of Saudi Arabias Environmental Laws As awareness of environmental issues has increased, Saudi Arabian environmental laws have developed. Such development has previously been piecemeal with environmental laws adopted on an ad-hoc basis. This is evident from the fact that environmental laws are either contained in laws relating to other substantive issues, or adopted by ratifying or signing international/regional conventions regarding certain specific environmental issues. The following are examples of some of Saudi Arabias environmental laws:The Basic Law (commonly referred to as the constitution of Saudi Arabia) In 1992 Saudi Arabia adopted the Basic Law setting out the system of government for the country and the obligations of the government to the people of Saudi Arabia. Article 32 of the Basic Law states that, “The state works for the preservation, protection, and improvement of the environment, and for the prevention of pollution“.The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the 1992 Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment (commonly referred to as the Jeddah Convention). The Jeddah Convention seeks, in broad terms, to preserve and protect the special hydrographic and ecological characteristics of the marine environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.The Arabian Gulf On 23 April 1978, Saudi Arabia participated in a regional conference of plenipotentiaries on the protection and development of the marine environment and the coastal areas of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The conference adopted the Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Areas, the Kuwait Regional Convention for Co-operation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution, and the Protocol concerning Regional Co-operation in Combating Pollution by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency.Sea Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, which provides for a universal legal framework for the rational management of marine resources and their conservation for future generations.Air Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone layer, which seeks to protect human health and the environment against adverse effects to the modification of the ozone layer.Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol, which calls for phasing out chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases (harmful to the ozone layer) by 2010. However, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Saudi Arabia, as a non-Annex I country, is not required to reduce its emissions below 1990 levels. Although Saudi Arabia ratified the Convention, it is not a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol.Forest and WildlifeThere are several regulations which deal with the preservation of forest areas and wildlife generally.Petrochemical industry The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu has devised an environmental standard to which all industries operating in the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu must comply. These standards are considered to be quite stringent as they are based on European and US standards.Movement of waste Saudi Arabia is a signatory to the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.Labour law The Saudi Arabian labour law contains provisions designed to protect workers against environmental hazards.Islamic law Islamic law has the force of law in Saudi Arabia. The two main sources of Islamic law are the Quran, and the authentic sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (may peace and blessing be upon him) known as the hadith. Throughout the Quran and hadith there are many general references to the environment (ie animals, plants, mountains, seas etc), which are all considered to be blessings from Allah. Islamic law generally requires that the environment be protected, insofar as animals must be treated with kindness, and land must be utilized sensibly. For specific wanton damage to the environment there are prescribed punishments.3. Public Environmental Law The Public Environmental Law was enacted by Royal Decree No. M/34 dated 28/7/1422 Hejri (corresponding to 16 October 2001), and was published in the Official Gazette number 3868 dated 24/8/1422 Hejri (corresponding to 9 November 2001).