ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday welcomed Saudi Arabia's new green initiatives as a major step in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, the foreign office said in a statement.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced on Saturday the launch of the Green Saudi and Green Middle East initiatives that aim to reduce carbon emissions in the region by 60 percent and plant 50 billion trees in the world’s biggest afforestation project.
Qureshi lauded the initiatives during a phone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
"Praising the 'Saudi Green Initiative' and the 'Green Middle East Initiative' announced by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Foreign Minister Qureshi termed it as a major initiative for reducing global carbon emissions," the foreign office said in a statement.
It added that the Saudi foreign minister also "lauded Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ground-breaking measures already taken in Pakistan in the same arena."
Under its climate action plan, Pakistan has pledged to source 60 percent of energy from renewables by 2030. The government's flagship 10 Billion Tree Tsunami afforestation program, which kicked off in 2019, is expected to reach 1 billion trees planted by June 2021, according to climate change ministry data.
The Saudi initiatives to reduce the region's carbon footprint stem from the kingdom's commitment to applying new environmental policies, including the preservation of marine and desert habitats and greenifying its urban areas.
While announcing the programs, the crown prince said that as a leading global oil producer, Saudi Arabia is fully aware of its "responsibility in advancing the fight against the climate crisis."
"Just as we played a leading role in stabilizing energy markets during the oil and gas era, we will work to lead the coming green era," he said.
The initiatives are expected to eliminate more than 130 million tons of carbon emissions by using clean energy technologies.
Renewable energy projects are expected to provide 50 percent of the kingdom’s electricity production by 2030.
