RIYADH: The head of Saudi Arabia’s green building organization highlighted the importance of creating sustainable communities at a UN forum in New York, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
Faisal Al-Fadl, secretary-general of the Saudi Green Building Forum, made the comments during an official statement from the Volunteer Groups Alliance at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Al-Fadl said that volunteer work was a vital driver for accelerating sustainability goals, during a session on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 11 focusing on sustainable cities and communities.
To demonstrate the success of integrated sustainability solutions, Al-Fadl cited the SGBF’s documentation of 312 green building projects across the Arab region.
These projects showed simultaneous progress in water, energy, innovation and responsible consumption, he said.
He also showcased Saudi Arabia’s Qassim Region as a prime model for civic engagement, where more than 333,000 volunteers out of a population of 1.3 million actively helped to improve quality of life and urban resilience.
Al-Fadl emphasized that while science and technology provided tools, human wisdom and volunteer empowerment were essential for building inclusive societies.
Ahead of the UN forum, the SGBF hosted a virtual event on youth leadership and climate action that drew more than 150 participants and half a million digital viewers.
This initiative underscores the global readiness to turn volunteerism into a measurable developmental impact, according to the SPA, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to strengthen international partnerships and empower the non-profit sector.
The Saudi Green Building Forum is a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the UN, founded in 2010 to promote a global agenda for health, safety and the environment.
