Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its continued leadership in supporting international initiatives to combat land degradation and drought, as well as promoting environmental sustainability. It also contributes to global efforts to protect the planet and conserve natural resources.
This was announced by Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture for the Environment Dr. Osama Faqeeha while attending the G20 Ministers of Environment and Climate Change meeting, held in Cape Town, South Africa on October 16 and 17. The Saudi delegation to the meeting was headed by Dr. Faqeeha.
The meeting was part of the G20’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation in tackling global environmental challenges and promoting the protection of ecosystems worldwide.
In his speech, Dr. Faqeeha emphasized Saudi Arabia’s leading role in advancing environmental protection at the national, regional, and international levels. He pointed to key initiatives launched by the Crown Prince—the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative—as well as the adoption of the National Environment Strategy.
Dr. Faqeeha highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in expanding afforestation projects, combating desertification, rehabilitating degraded lands, and increasing protected areas by more than 400%. He further highlighted Saudi Arabia’s prominent role within the G20, including its launch of the Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and the Global Coral Reef Initiative during its G20 presidency in 2020.
Dr. Faqeeha noted that the Kingdom has made a transformative impact in the global dialogue on environmental issues, particularly through hosting the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh in 2024. The conference marked the highest level of international participation in the convention’s history. It also led to the adoption of several key outcomes, including the Riyadh Declaration and more than 35 international resolutions focused on sustainable management of agricultural lands and rangelands, empowering local communities, and advancing research and innovation.
Moreover, around 40 initiatives were introduced as part of the Riyadh Agenda, most notably the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, which aims to strengthen global cooperation in combating drought.
The G20 Environment and Climate Change Ministers’ Meeting serves as a platform to align global efforts in tackling climate change and to foster international collaboration in developing shared solutions to environmental challenges across the globe.