Saudi Environment Minister Highlights Unprecedented Saudi Environmental Progress
Riyadh, September 10, 2024, SPA -- Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley highlighted the unprecedented environmental progress the Kingdom has witnessed, as he participated in the 10th International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) Regional Conservation Forum, being held in Riyadh.
During his participation in a panel discussion, AlFadley said the Kingdom has achieved environmental milestones at local, regional, and international levels. The achievements stem from a comprehensive national vision that has positioned the environmental sector as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development.
AlFadley spotlighted the Kingdom’s adoption of the National Environment Strategy as a guiding framework for environmental action. Saudi Arabia has also launched initiatives and programs to preserve the environment and biodiversity, including initiatives that were introduced during its presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) Riyadh Summit. The endeavors aim to conserve nature, prevent the degradation of land, and accelerate research and development for global coral reefs.
The minister also highlighted the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, and initiatives aimed at combating overgrazing, among others, covering all environmental domains. He emphasized that such initiatives, programs, and plans reflect a comprehensive vision aimed at achieving the target of protecting 30% of the Kingdom's terrestrial and marine area by 2030.
He highlighted that the environmental system within the Kingdom, which has brought about a qualitative leap, works harmoniously to achieve national, regional, and international targets within an integrated institutional framework that includes a national strategy, implementing regulations, in addition to specialized centers concerned with wildlife, meteorology, desertification control, waste management, and vegetation cover. There also is an environmental fund.
AlFadley said that the Kingdom’s hosting of the IUCN forum underscores the pioneering Saudi role in environmental conservation and sustainability. Hosting the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) next December represents a significant step towards enhancing international cooperation to find effective solutions to mitigate land degradation and drought effects, contributing significantly to environmental, economic, and social benefits worldwide, he added.
The IUCN West Asia Regional Conservation Forum is organized by the IUCN ROWA once every four years, hosted by member states. It serves as a platform for discussing common environmental challenges, developing effective strategies for nature conservation, and exchanging expertise.
The forum hosts workshops and seminars to enhance environmental awareness and train individuals on best practices, aiming to establish effective environmental policies.
--SPA
