Environmental Week highlights Saudi Arabia’s sustainability vision

1 / 5
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched Saudi Environment Week on Sunday, themed “Our Environment is a Treasure,” to showcase the Kingdom’s efforts in ecosystem protection and sustainable development. (SPA)
2 / 5
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched Saudi Environment Week on Sunday, themed “Our Environment is a Treasure,” to showcase the Kingdom’s efforts in ecosystem protection and sustainable development. (SPA)
3 / 5
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched Saudi Environment Week on Sunday, themed “Our Environment is a Treasure,” to showcase the Kingdom’s efforts in ecosystem protection and sustainable development. (SPA)
4 / 5
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched Saudi Environment Week on Sunday, themed “Our Environment is a Treasure,” to showcase the Kingdom’s efforts in ecosystem protection and sustainable development. (SPA)
5 / 5
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched Saudi Environment Week on Sunday, themed “Our Environment is a Treasure,” to showcase the Kingdom’s efforts in ecosystem protection and sustainable development. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 20 April 2025
Follow

Environmental Week highlights Saudi Arabia’s sustainability vision

  • New national index aims to monitor Kingdom’s environmental health, guide policy decisions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture launched Saudi Environment Week on Sunday, themed “Our Environment is a Treasure,” to showcase the Kingdom’s efforts in ecosystem protection and sustainable development.

A highlight was the debut of the National Environmental Performance Index, a strategic tool to monitor environmental progress and guide policy.

The event, inaugurated by Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli in Riyadh, brings together government agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and local communities to promote eco-friendly practices and collective responsibility.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir also attended, with the event featuring environmental presentations, agreement signings, and children’s performances to encourage positive environmental behavior.

Activities include nationwide exhibitions, workshops on biodiversity and renewable energy, and forums for green innovations.

The new index, which Al-Fadhli described as essential for informed decision-making, will track environmental metrics like air quality, water conservation, and biodiversity.

It aims to align national development with ecological priorities, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable growth.

Al-Fadhli stressed the Kingdom’s leadership in sustainability, prioritizing natural resource protection and societal responsibility. He said that the index ensures accountability and progress as the country builds a greener future.

Al-Fadhli toured the exhibition, featuring sections on vegetation cover, desertification control, biodiversity, waste management, meteorology, and environmental compliance.

The exhibition also includes workshops highlighting Saudi Arabia’s role in fostering environmental cooperation, raising awareness, encouraging private sector investments in sustainable projects, and advancing technology.

The ministry emphasized that the newly introduced index serves as a nationwide monitoring tool, developed in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme.

It is designed to align with government bodies, environmental organizations, and national centers, ensuring cohesion with Saudi Arabia’s ecological priorities.

Key goals include evaluating environmental health, identifying change drivers, and establishing an early detection system for sustainability challenges and progress.

By tracking progress toward environmental targets, the ministry noted that the index identifies gaps for urgent action, enabling data-driven policy adjustments.

Phase 1 focuses on five core areas linked to the National Environment Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030: wildlife conservation, green space expansion, waste management efficiency, pollution levels in air, soil, and water, and weather forecasting accuracy.

Phase 2 will address emerging priorities, such as climate change metrics, reflecting their importance in long-term environmental planning.

The ministry stressed that the index will provide policymakers with actionable insights, driving improvements in ecological resilience, public health, and quality of life for Saudi citizens.

The National Fisheries Development Center has joined the celebrations of Saudi Environment Week.

Riyadh Al-Fageeh, director general of the center, said: “Our participation highlights the importance of preserving the environment, raising awareness, and strengthening quality of life goals. We aim to emphasize the role of institutions and individuals in maintaining ecological balance, aligned with Vision 2030.”

He added: “Saudi Environment Week reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting natural resources and leading regional efforts in sustainability. We encourage all citizens and residents to actively participate and contribute to a cleaner, greener future.”


Hajj health-tips kit launches in 8 languages

Updated 18 min 34 sec ago
Follow

Hajj health-tips kit launches in 8 languages

  • Kit includes advice to avoid heat exhaustion this Hajj
  • Pilgrims must be vaccinated for stipulated diseases

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Health has launched an awareness kit in eight languages for the forthcoming Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The kit contains content in Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Persian, Indonesian, Malay and Turkish.

“The multilingual approach aims to reach the widest possible audience of pilgrims arriving from various countries around the world,” the SPA report stated.

Among its key components are guidelines for preventing heat exhaustion. Pilgrims are advised to use umbrellas to reduce direct sun exposure and stay hydrated.

The kit includes videos, social media posts, and printable materials.

Pilgrims are also advised to ensure they are vaccinated for meningococcal meningitis, COVID-19, poliomyelitis and yellow fever, depending on their countries of origin.

The ministry advised pilgrims with chronic diseases to carry documents stating their conditions, and adequate supplies of medications in their original packaging.

It further recommended that pilgrims update vaccinations for diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, chickenpox and mumps.

The kit can be downloaded at: https://www.moh.gov.sa/HealthAwareness/Pilgrims_Health/Pages/Hajj.aspx.


Shoura Council speaker receives speaker of the Arab Parliament

Updated 15 May 2025
Follow

Shoura Council speaker receives speaker of the Arab Parliament

RIYADH: The speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, received his counterpart from the Arab Parliament, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, during the 19th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states.

During the meeting in Jakarta, the two reviewed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy carried out through active participation in regional and international conferences and forums.

They also discussed strengthening the mechanisms of joint Arab parliamentary action to serve Arab issues, as well as other topics of common interest.


King Salman Arabic academy celebrates graduates

Updated 15 May 2025
Follow

King Salman Arabic academy celebrates graduates

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language held a ceremony in Riyadh recently to celebrate the graduation of the second group of non-native speakers from the Abjad Center.

A total of 168 male and female students were honored after fulfilling all the program’s requirements, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, secretary-general of the academy, said the Abjad Center offers a learning experience designed to equip non-native speakers with strong and effective communication skills.

Al-Washmi added that the program reflects the refinement of the academy’s educational model, reinforcing its role as a leading scientific authority on the Arabic language.

The initiative amplifies the academy’s educational and cultural impact in line with the objectives of the nation’s Human Capability Development Program, he said.


Royal Commission for AlUla, Smithsonian collaboration

Updated 15 May 2025
Follow

Royal Commission for AlUla, Smithsonian collaboration

  • The agreement supports the commission’s vision to transform AlUla into a world-class heritage destination and economic hub

MADINAH: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, and the Royal Commission for AlUla have formalized a collaboration agreement to enhance cultural exchange and establish a framework to broaden global understanding of northern Arabia’s ancient civilizations and cultural legacy.

The agreement supports the commission’s vision to transform AlUla into a world-class heritage destination and economic hub. Rooted in mutual dedication to cultural preservation and celebration, the collaboration will unlock new research opportunities and deepen insights into ancient Kingdom artistry, with special focus on the Dadanite civilization.

Experts will conduct joint initiatives in art conservation, historic research, archaeological exploration, and scientific analysis. The institutions will collaborate on exhibitions and artifact exchanges, bringing cultural treasures to international audiences.

Professional development programs covering exhibition curation, research methodologies, narrative development, and museum operations will enhance expertise among staff at AlUla’s museums and the Smithsonian.


Saudi Arabia attends IAACA anti-corruption meeting

Updated 15 May 2025
Follow

Saudi Arabia attends IAACA anti-corruption meeting

RIYADH: The Kingdom, represented by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, also known as Nazaha, took part in the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, held on Thursday via video conferencing.

Nazaha President Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous expressed his thanks to the association’s president and Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong, Danny Woo, for organizing the meeting and for the association’s efforts to promote international cooperation in combating corruption.

He added that the Kingdom, represented by Nazaha, has paid significant attention to strengthening international partnerships in the fields of combating corruption and protecting integrity, and these efforts have resulted in a number of tangible achievements.

Al-Kahmous said that the Kingdom believes in the pivotal role played by the association in solidifying the principles of transparency and facilitating the exchange of expertise, knowledge and experiences.