National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change for the Sultanate of Oman (2020-2040).

The National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Sultanate of Oman presents a long-term vision to address climate challenges and guide national action over the coming two decades. It serves as a policy-oriented framework that defines priority actions for both adaptation and mitigation, supporting informed decision-making and future policy development. The Strategy aims to strengthen resilience across key sectors and communities while enabling a gradual shift toward a low-emission economy. In doing so, it promotes sustainable resource management, supports economic opportunities, and addresses climate-related risks, particularly for the most vulnerable. Central to the Strategy is the identification of targeted measures to manage climate impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These measures are designed to ensure coordinated progress across sectors while aligning with national development priorities. The Strategy is built around 5 main objectives (1) strengthening institutional capacity; (2) increasing public awareness; (3) advancing systematic climate research; (4) enhancing coordination across government entities; (5) fostering strategic research partnerships and cooperation. These cross-cutting objectives underpin all areas of action and reflect both the short- and long-term vision for climate policy in Oman.
The Strategy is organized around 3 core themes (1) Climate Science: This theme focuses on applying advanced methods and tools to analyze historical climate trends and improve understanding of future climate conditions in Oman under a range of plausible global greenhouse gas emission scenarios. A key priority is the development of reliable climate projections at both spatial (national and regional) and temporal (including seasonal variability) scales. To support this, 4 strategic action areas have been identified: raising awareness, strengthening data systems, enhancing research capacity, and building technical expertise; (2) Vulnerability and Adaptation: This theme addresses climate risks across priority sectors: water resources; marine biodiversity and fisheries; agriculture; urban areas, tourism and infrastructure; and public health. Comprehensive vulnerability assessments have been conducted for each sector to evaluate potential impacts related to changes in temperature, precipitation, and sea-level rise. Based on these assessments, targeted adaptation measures have been defined and integrated into the Strategy; (3) Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: This theme targets the sectors responsible for the majority of emissions in Oman, namely energy, industry, waste, and agriculture. It outlines 4 sets of strategic mitigation actions designed to reduce emissions and support the transition toward a low-carbon economy. Together, these three themes provide a structured and integrated approach, each contributing to and reinforcing the Strategy’s overarching, cross-cutting objectives.
Effective implementation of the Strategy will require coordinated action across multiple levels of government and engagement with a broad range of stakeholders. It is intended to serve as the country’s principal policy reference for guiding climate change efforts in both the near and long term. As such, it provides a high-level framework for shaping Oman’s overall response to climate change. Implementation should be guided by 3 key principles (1) each priority sector should develop detailed action plans to translate the Strategy into concrete measures; (2) implementation processes should remain flexible, allowing for adjustments as new scientific evidence and insights emerge; (3) existing regulatory frameworks should be reviewed and, where necessary, updated to eliminate barriers and support effective climate action.