RIYADH: A major regional effort to combat climate change gained momentum as 11 countries joined the Middle East Green Initiative during its first Ministerial Council session in Jeddah.
Led by Saudi Arabia, the initiative aims to address environmental challenges across the region and contribute to global climate targets. The session, attended by representatives from 29 countries and international organizations, underscored the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering cooperation in environmental efforts.
Among the new members are Algeria, Chad, Kenya, and Senegal. Burkina Faso, Lebanon, and Gambia have also joined the initiative. Nigeria, Guinea, and the Central African Republic were additionally confirmed as members.
In addition to the new regional members, the UK was welcomed as a non-regional contributor with observer status, according to a press release.
This comes as the council emphasized the critical role of these new members in achieving the initiative’s ambitious objectives. It also encouraged more regional and non-regional countries to participate, highlighting the importance of technical and financial support to meet both regional and global environmental goals.
Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley highlighted the need for enhanced regional collaboration to protect the environment and boost food and water security, safeguard biodiversity, and preserve ecosystems.
During the inaugural session, the minister noted that the initiative represents a significant step toward improving regional governance in combating desertification, drought, and climate change challenges.
MGI’s key target is planting 50 billion trees across the Middle East, restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land. Saudi Arabia will plant 10 billion trees within its borders, while the remaining 40 billion will be planted across the region over the coming decades.
During the session, Al-Fadley confirmed that the initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021 represents the first regional alliance of its kind, aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change across the Middle East and North Africa.
He noted that the final version of the initiative’s charter was agreed upon during the founding countries’ ministerial meeting in October 2022.
The minister emphasized the need for collective efforts in the Middle East to tackle environmental challenges such as desertification and drought.
The ministerial statement from the meeting outlined several key decisions. The council approved the organizational structure and internal policies of the MGI secretariat, appointed the MGI secretary-general, and designated the MGI Fund Trustee, paving the way for the initiative’s implementation phase.
The council also reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing regional collaboration to combat land degradation, desertification, and drought while addressing their severe environmental and socio-economic impacts.
It expressed anticipation for the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification or COP16 scheduled to take place in Riyadh in December.
The council called on UNCCD parties and relevant stakeholders to actively participate in COP16, positioning it as a crucial platform for addressing global land degradation and drought challenges.
As the council advocates for support of COP16 outcomes, it aims to make the event a historic turning point in enhancing global efforts to combat land degradation, halt desertification, accelerate land restoration, and improve drought resilience.
