The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to leading regional efforts to protect the environment, announcing the launch of the implementation phase of the Green Middle East Initiative during the initiative's second ministerial council meeting held in Jeddah. This step culminates the diligent work and joint coordination among member states aimed at addressing the challenges of climate change, combating desertification, and developing vegetation cover in the region.
Context of the initiative and the vision of the Saudi leadership
These initiatives are of paramount strategic importance, complementing the ambitious vision launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2021. From its inception, the initiative aimed to establish a clear regional roadmap for reducing carbon emissions and planting 50 billion trees in the Middle East, representing 5% of the global afforestation target. The continued support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince reflects the Kingdom's commitment to prioritizing sustainable environmental solutions on the region's political and economic agenda.
Outcomes of the ministerial meeting in Jeddah
The meeting, chaired by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, saw broad participation from 30 member states across Asia and Africa, in addition to the United Kingdom as an observer. Minister Al-Fadhli called for a redoubling of efforts to rehabilitate degraded lands, highlighting the economic and social benefits that these projects would bring to the people of the region.
The Council commended the tangible progress achieved, including the adoption of national targets to plant over 37 billion trees and rehabilitate 92 million hectares of land. To date, member states have successfully planted over 3.5 billion trees and rehabilitated 550,000 hectares, demonstrating a serious commitment to implementation and the ability to translate commitments into concrete results.
Expanding membership and strategic partnerships
In a move reflecting the growing international momentum around the initiative, the Ministerial Council welcomed the accession of new members including the Republic of Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and the Syrian Arab Republic, bringing the total number of regional member states to 34. Additionally, 35 international organizations and institutions were approved as technical and financial partners, further strengthening the initiative's capacity to mobilize the necessary resources and expertise.
On the financial front, a pivotal agreement was signed with the Islamic Development Bank to manage the initiative's fund, a key step to ensure the sustainability of funding for environmental projects during the next implementation phase.
Integration with international efforts and climate conferences
The Ministerial Council linked the initiative's objectives to the successes achieved by the Kingdom during its hosting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, which marked a historic turning point in efforts to combat desertification. The Council affirmed its support for the outcomes of the Riyadh Declaration and the initiatives stemming from it, such as the Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience.
The Council also noted the synergy between regional and international initiatives, commending Brazil's role in COP30 and global land restoration initiatives. This alignment underscores that the Middle East Green Initiative is not merely a regional project, but a cornerstone of the global climate action framework, aimed at protecting the planet and ensuring a greener future for generations to come.
