CAIRO: The Saudi Green Initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was widely welcomed by world leaders and leading environmentalists.
The SGI aims to eliminate 278 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by 2030, up from a previous target of 130 million tons. The crown prince said the SGI initiative would involve investments of over SR700 billion ($190 billion) in that time period.
In a video message played at the forum on Saturday, Prince Charles said: “We have already seen great progress, which Saudi and Middle East green initiatives will accelerate.”
#SGIForum: Prince Charles says we have already seen great progress, which #Saudi and #MiddleEast green initiatives will accelerate@Gi_Saudi #SaudiGreenInitiativehttps://t.co/SKobOYeFcO pic.twitter.com/5OMifnIVp7
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 23, 2021
“We now have a dangerously narrow window of opportunity to accelerate climate change action,” the prince of Wales added.
#SGIForum: Prince Charles says we now have dangerously narrow window of opportunity to accelerate climate change action@Gi_Saudi #SaudiGreenInitiativehttps://t.co/SKobOYeFcO pic.twitter.com/FE2StQ63U7
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 23, 2021
Boris Johnson tweeted: “Saudi Arabia’s landmark pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2060 is a major step forward.”
Saudi Arabia's landmark pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2060 is a major step forward.
I look forward to seeing further announcements at the Middle East Green Initiative and to working together @COP26 to keep 1.5C within reach.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 23, 2021
Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International stressed the need to agree on a global goal for nature as “we have for climate — we need to talk about net positive biodiversity.”
#SGIForum: We need to agree on a global goal for nature as we have for climate - we need to talk about net positive biodiversity, @WWF_DG Marco Lambertini said @Gi_Saudi #SaudiGreenInitiativehttps://t.co/SKobOYeFcO pic.twitter.com/0ENvYEcNpJ
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 23, 2021
“Only 20 percent of the companies within the G20 countries have climate targets,” said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and executive director of the UN Global Compact.
#SGIForum: @SandaOjiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN @globalcompact, said only 20% of companies within the #G20 countries have climate targets@Gi_Saudi #SaudiGreenInitiativehttps://t.co/SKobOYeFcO pic.twitter.com/UUXjkRxxZh
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 23, 2021
“We are all committed to lowering carbon emissions — each country with its own implementation program,” Tarek El-Molla, Egypt’s minister of petroleum and mineral resources said.
#SGIForum: We are all committed to lowering #carbon emissions - each country with its own implementation program, Tarek El-Molla, Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources @Gi_Saudi #COP26 #OOTThttps://t.co/SKobOYeFcO pic.twitter.com/v7yKMQh0Sm
— Arab News (@arabnews) October 23, 2021
US climate envoy John Kerry is due to attend a wider Middle East green summit in Riyadh on Monday.
“An initiative of the (Saudi) crown prince, the summit is the first of its kind in the Middle East region,” the Pakistan’s Prime Minister Office said in a statement said.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI is paying a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, starting from today.
The PM will attend the launching ceremony of the "Middle East Green Initiative Summit" in Riyadh on invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.#PMIKinKSA pic.twitter.com/tjbT3w0a42— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) October 23, 2021
Imran Khan is visiting Saudi Arabia to attend the launch of “the Middle East Green Initiative Summit” in Riyadh.
