Priority measures for mitigating transport-related carbon emissions in Saudi Arabia: A multi-criteria analysis

The transportation sector is a key contributor to global GHG emissions. Policymakers in Saudi Arabia have realized the necessity to prioritize climate action across different sectors, including transportation. However, there is a limited understanding of specific mitigation measures that need to be prioritized. In this study, we adopted a multi-criteria analysis approach that relies on expert opinions to address this gap. Results show that, among different types of measures, experts prioritize the following in descending order of preference: promoting active and public transportation, switching to EV, travel demand management, improving efficiency, and carbon pricing. Each of these measures can provide mitigation opportunities. However, their implementation could be challenging and may result in trade-offs, particularly regarding economic costs and justice. We discuss that the successful implementation of these measures requires integrated policy making across different sectors, including land use planning, finance, and technology. We discuss the necessity of land use planning approaches based on accessibility, proximity, and compactness measures (e.g., following the 15-min city principles) to incrementally make the urban form compatible with active and public transportation necessities. Promoting behavioral changes is another important measure that needs attention. All these measures should be implemented carefully to avoid disproportionate impacts on certain societal groups such as low-income people. We conclude the study by providing policy recommendations and suggestions for future research. • We explore gaps related to measures to mitigate transport-related emissions in Saudi Arabia. • We examine multiple criteria related to issues like planning, technology, demand, and pricing. • We identify promoting active and public transport and switching to EV as the key measures. • We highlight the need for integrated policy making to minimize potential trade-offs. • We emphasize planning approaches based on accessibility, proximity, and compactness.