Saudi Arabia Leads 35th Council Of Arab Ministers Responsible For Environment Meetings In Jeddah

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently hosted the 35th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environment. This event, organised by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in collaboration with the League of Arab States, took place from October 13-17, 2024, in Jeddah. The gathering saw participation from Arab ministers responsible for environmental affairs and representatives from various regional and international organisations.

During his address, Abdulrahman Alfadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, highlighted Saudi Arabia's comprehensive approach to environmental issues. He emphasised that this aligns with Vision 2030 and focuses on safeguarding the natural environment while preserving biodiversity and vegetation cover. The country has enacted national legislation and strategies aimed at environmental protection and sustainability, such as the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives.

Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, pointed out that the Arab world is experiencing a severe water crisis. He noted that once-vibrant rivers have diminished significantly. With only 2% of the world's renewable water resources, the region is among the driest globally. This highlights an urgent need for effective water management strategies across Arab nations.

Ambassador Ali bin Ibrahim AlMalki, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector at the Arab League, mentioned that this session follows significant involvement by Arab countries in hosting COP27 in Egypt and COP28 in the UAE. He also noted that Saudi Arabia will host COP16. The positive outcomes and initiatives introduced during these conferences have gained global recognition.

The session covered a range of critical environmental topics. These included challenges faced by the Arab Union for Nature Reserves and addressing climate change issues. Discussions also focused on international environmental agreements within the sector and how policies related to water, agriculture, and environment are interconnected in Arab countries.

In addition to these discussions, it was announced that Riyadh has been named the Arab Environment Capital for the next two years. This recognition underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to environmental leadership in the region.

Awards and Initiatives

The Saudi Green Initiative received recognition as it was awarded the Distinguished Environmental Project Award at the government sector level. This accolade highlights its significant contributions to environmental sustainability efforts within Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, Arab countries were encouraged to join the Middle East Green Initiative actively. They were also invited to participate in COP16 actively. These initiatives aim to foster regional cooperation on pressing environmental issues.

The session underscored Saudi Arabia's leadership role in addressing environmental challenges within the region. By hosting such events and promoting initiatives like Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to drive sustainable development while fostering cooperation among Arab nations on critical environmental issues.

With inputs from SPA