Saudi Arabia Reports Environmental Gains at Gulf Cooperation Council Ministers’ Meeting
RIYADH, October 14 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia reported a fourfold increase in the area of terrestrial and marine protected areas and a nearly 300% rise in waste recycling at the 28th Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries in Bahrain. Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture Dr. Osama Faqeeha presented the figures in his address.
More than one million hectares of degraded land have been rehabilitated, more than 180 million trees planted and more than 10,000 endangered wild animals released into the wild, Faqeeha said.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection, resource conservation and sustainability through the Saudi Green Initiative and the National Environment Strategy. Faqeeha also praised Gulf Cooperation Council countries’ support for the Middle East Green Initiative, which has attracted participation from 35 countries.
Faqeeha said the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh adopted 37 resolutions and launched initiatives including Business4Land and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.
The presidency of the 16th Conference of the Parties continued to follow up on implementation of those decisions, Faqeeha said. He added that more than 200 initiatives worldwide had joined the Riyadh Action Agenda.
Faqeeha welcomed Egypt’s hosting of the 18th Conference of the Parties in 2028 and Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the next meeting of environment ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
Source: SPA.
