Saudi Green Initiative Forum to focus on climate resilience and sustainability

RIYADH: Nature-based solutions for climate resilience and community adaptation will take center stage at the fourth edition of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, set to run from Dec. 3 to 4 in Riyadh. 

The event, held alongside the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, aims to address pressing global environmental challenges, including land rehabilitation, carbon reduction innovations, and sustainable financing. 

The forum will also address the role of natural solutions in helping communities adapt to climate change and the need to enhance efforts to preserve the Kingdom’s rich biodiversity, according to a statement. 

This aligns with the UNCCD’s goal of restoring 15 billion hectares of land by 2030, as a recent UN study indicates that 90 percent of the Earth’s soil is at risk of degradation by 2050. 

During the Riyadh COP16 conference, the SGI exhibition will open its doors to visitors to learn about the Kingdom’s efforts in reducing emissions, planting trees, and protecting the environment through innovative, interactive experiences. 

The exhibition will provide valuable insights into the Kingdom’s qualitative initiatives, focusing on three key goals – reducing carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030, planting 10 billion trees, and protecting 30 percent of Saudi Arabia’s land and marine areas.

It will also host the “Saudi Green Initiative Dialogues” series, launched in 2023 and returning this year with participation from international experts. The discussions will cover the latest trends and innovations in climate and sustainability, fostering new opportunities for a more sustainable future. 

Launched in 2021, the SGI aims to engage all sectors of society in climate action and support Saudi Arabia’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2060. 

The initiative underscores the Kingdom’s climate efforts, addressing challenges like rising temperatures, low rainfall, sand and dust storms, and desertification, all aimed at enhancing quality of life and building a sustainable future for generations to come. 

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 highlights its commitment to environmental protection. As the largest multilateral conference the Kingdom has ever hosted, it mobilizes global cooperation to drive the necessary changes and actions for the future of the planet.