RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has highlighted afforestation as a key natural solution to rising summer temperatures, saying trees help cool urban areas, improve air quality and enhance quality of life, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The ministry’s statements came as the executive committee of the Middle East Green Initiative reviewed progress toward regional targets to plant 35.4 billion trees and rehabilitate 99.4 million hectares of degraded land during its 20th meeting.
The ministry said trees help cool the environment by providing shade and limiting heat absorption by sidewalks and other surfaces. Through transpiration, they release water vapor that cools surrounding air, improving air quality in cities, parks and open spaces.
Afforestation also creates more suitable environments for recreation and outdoor activities, encourages physical activity and helps absorb an average of up to 150 kg of carbon dioxide annually, the ministry said.
It urged residents to choose native tree species better adapted to the Kingdom’s climate and requiring less water, helping ensure efficient use of natural resources and improve the sustainability of planting projects. It also called for proper agricultural practices to protect trees during the summer.
The ministry said afforestation supports Saudi Vision 2030 and broader environmental sustainability efforts.
The statements came as the MGI held its 20th meeting by videoconference, with officials from member states reviewing implementation of decisions from the initiative’s second ministerial council meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Jan. 29, 2026.
The MGI’s Secretary-General Ibrahim Alturki presented a report on the secretariat’s achievements during the first half of 2026, including capacity-building and knowledge-transfer programs, stronger partnerships with regional and international organizations and development-financing institutions, and operational preparations.
The meeting also reviewed a communications strategy, including the launch of the initiative’s website and social media accounts, as well as the secretariat’s work plan for the second half of the year.
Members discussed nominations to the Scientific Advisory Committee, which provides technical advice on developing vegetation cover, and reviewed five internal policies covering communications, transparency, stakeholder engagement, administrative affairs and institutional efficiency.
The committee also reviewed a five-year strategy and roadmap for submission to the next ministerial council meeting.
Launched in March 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the MGI is a Saudi-led regional alliance aimed at addressing desertification, rising temperatures and air pollution through cross-border cooperation and knowledge transfer.
Its broader goals include planting 50 billion trees across the region, restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land and reducing carbon emissions from hydrocarbon production by more than 60 percent.
The initiative’s founding members agreed on a governance framework in October 2022, including the establishment of a dedicated secretariat headquartered in Riyadh.
