ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL1.CCS/2026/TP.1
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Information material
Cluster: Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability
Focus Area: Climate change, Natural resource sustainability
SDGs: Agenda 2030, Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 13: Climate Action
Keywords: Arab countries, Capacity building, Climate change, Data quality, Digital technology, Economic aspects, Evaluation, Geographic information systems, Recommendations, Resilience, Social aspects, Solar energy, Sustainable energy, Renewable energy sources
Improved mapping and monitoring of solar energy access for enhanced climate policy action and socioeconomic resilience: Policy and technical capacity assessment report
June 2026
Across the Arab region, the rapid expansion of solar energy is unfolding against a backdrop of rising climate pressures, growing energy demand, and persistent socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Countries are increasingly turning to solar power not only to diversify their energy mix, but also to strengthen resilience, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and address inequalities in access to electricity. Yet the transformational potential of solar energy depends on the integrity of the data systems, institutions and digital infrastructures that support planning, regulation and monitoring – areas that remain unevenly developed across the region. This assessment reviews policy frameworks and technical capacity for solar-energy monitoring across all Arab countries. While renewable-energy targets, primarily for solar PV, are widespread, implementation remains fragmented due to inadequate data systems for tracking progress, diagnosing bottlenecks, and supporting evidence-based policymaking aligned with SDG 7 and the Paris Agreement. Strengthening mapping and monitoring systems is therefore essential to translate policy ambition into operational delivery and to advance socioeconomic resilience.
Despite these constraints, the region possesses strong potential for accelerated progress. Several countries maintain functioning governance structures, emerging GIS platforms and expanding digital infrastructure. Regional consultations highlight clear opportunities to leverage these assets by using digital systems to close the implementation gap between targets and delivery, integrating geospatial tools into licensing and monitoring processes, and developing a regional GIS-based solar mapping platform. The report identifies actionable directions at the national, regional and capacity-building levels, including mandating data custodianship, adopting unified metadata standards, developing interoperable registries for both on-grid and off-grid systems, strengthening quality assurance and quality control processes, and establishing long-term training and peer-learning programmes. Together, these measures provide a pathway to convert solar ambition into effective, inclusive and climate-aligned delivery.
Related content
Climate change, Natural resource sustainability
Across the Arab region, the rapid expansion of solar energy is unfolding against a backdrop of rising climate pressures, growing energy demand, and persistent socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Countries are increasingly turning to solar power not only to diversify their energy mix, but also to strengthen resilience, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and address inequalities in access to electricity. Yet the transformational potential of solar energy depends on the integrity of the data systems, institutions and digital infrastructures that support planning, regulation and monitoring – areas that remain unevenly developed across the region. This assessment reviews policy frameworks and technical capacity for solar-energy monitoring across all Arab countries. While renewable-energy targets, primarily for solar PV, are widespread, implementation remains fragmented due to inadequate data systems for tracking progress, diagnosing bottlenecks, and supporting evidence-based policymaking aligned with SDG 7 and the Paris Agreement. Strengthening mapping and monitoring systems is therefore essential to translate policy ambition into operational delivery and to advance socioeconomic resilience.
Despite these constraints, the region possesses strong potential for accelerated progress. Several countries maintain functioning governance structures, emerging GIS platforms and expanding digital infrastructure. Regional consultations highlight clear opportunities to leverage these assets by using digital systems to close the implementation gap between targets and delivery, integrating geospatial tools into licensing and monitoring processes, and developing a regional GIS-based solar mapping platform. The report identifies actionable directions at the national, regional and capacity-building levels, including mandating data custodianship, adopting unified metadata standards, developing interoperable registries for both on-grid and off-grid systems, strengthening quality assurance and quality control processes, and establishing long-term training and peer-learning programmes. Together, these measures provide a pathway to convert solar ambition into effective, inclusive and climate-aligned delivery.
