The Kingdom assumes the presidency of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification during the opening of the Conference of the Parties "cup 16"

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially elected President of the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification at the opening ceremony, during the opening plenary session of the Conference of the Parties "COP16" Riyadh, where she begins her two-year term to advance international work on land rehabilitation and reclamation, restoring its fertility and vitality, and combating desertification and drought.

The Saudi capital has become a destination for policy makers, international organizations, companies, institutions, non-governmental departments, and major stakeholders; To search for urgent international solutions to the urgent global crises of land degradation, drought and desertification.

During the official opening of the conference, His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, President of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Engineer Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, confirmed that The Kingdom’s hosting of this session represents an extension of its interest in preserving the environment nationally, regionally and internationally, as international reports indicate the deterioration of more than 100 million hectares of agricultural land. forests and pastures annually, and as a result more than 3 billion people around the world are affected, and the annual losses resulting from land degradation are estimated at more than 6 trillion dollars.

He said during his speech on the occasion of the opening of the “COP 16” conference: In Riyadh yesterday: “The Kingdom looks forward to strengthening work and intensifying efforts under the umbrella of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification; To confront major environmental challenges and enhance integration between other international environmental agreements, especially the Rio Conventions on climate change and biodiversity; To reach ambitious outcomes that create a qualitative shift in enhancing land conservation, reducing land degradation, building capabilities to confront drought, and contributing to achieving well-being for humanity around the world.".

  Engineer Al-Fadhli added that the Middle East is one of the regions in the world most affected by land degradation, drought and desertification, as the Kingdom constantly seeks to confront environmental challenges in partnership with the international community, so the Kingdom’s vision has been given 2030, protecting the environment in general and reducing land degradation and combating desertification in particular is a top priority, given that protecting the environment and natural resources plays a fundamental role in achieving sustainable development and quality of life. In order to achieve these goals, the National Environment Strategy was adopted, and an environment fund and five specialized environmental centers were established. Environmental regulations were updated to align with best international standards and practices, and initiatives, plans and programs were developed. To enhance commitment to environmental controls, reduce pollution, develop vegetation and wildlife, and enhance waste management, meteorological services and climate studies.

He stated that the Saudi Green Initiative aims to rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded lands, and increase the area of ​​protected areas. Reaching 30% protected areas in 2030 AD, and this target was announced by the Kingdom in 2021 AD, more than a year before the global target was announced by the end of 2022 AD in Montreal, and work is also being done to raise the percentage of renewable energy. To reach 50% of the energy mix in the Kingdom by 2030 AD, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, noting that the Kingdom has adopted a national water strategy; To enhance the conservation and sustainability of water sources, many initiatives and projects have been implemented in the field of water recycling. To achieve water and environmental sustainability, as well as a national strategy for agriculture; It aims to enhance the efficiency of agricultural production, sustainable management of agricultural lands, and a national strategy for food security, aiming to reduce food loss and waste.

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