RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is all set to kick off Environment Week 2024 on Sunday with a spotlight on the Kingdom’s commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development.
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, the week-long event aims to heighten awareness throughout society about environmental issues.
It will feature a range of activities including workshops, lectures, field activities, and awareness campaigns, all geared towards inspiring citizens to safeguard natural resources and endorse sustainable development practices.
Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli will lead the inauguration, discussing Saudi Arabia’s achievements in environmental protection and sustainability.
Saudi Arabia has emerged as a frontrunner among nations prioritizing the environment and sustainable development. The Kingdom has laid out comprehensive strategic plans aimed at striking a balance between economic growth and environmental protection.
Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has made significant progress toward building a more sustainable ecological future.
This includes the implementation of a national environmental strategy and the introduction of a series of laws, strategies, and plans aimed at protecting and preserving the environment.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has initiated several groundbreaking national projects such as the Saudi Green and Middle East Green initiatives. These efforts underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to environmental conservation, cleaner energy transition, and sustainability programs, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions, increasing afforestation, rehabilitating land, and safeguarding both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
The Ministry has also adopted a plan to enhance Saudi Arabia’s waste management sector, with ambitious targets to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and contribute significantly to the country’s GDP.
Saudi Arabia’s environmental advancements have coincided with notable achievements, including a 10 percent reduction in dust storms, attributed to various factors such as establishment of reserves, increased rainfall, and successful rain-seeding programs.
The preservation of over 94,000 hectares of land and the planting of more than 49 million trees across the Kingdom have further contributed to these positive outcomes. Additionally, the country has established a global center for sustainability solutions leveraging artificial intelligence, achieving high accuracy in early weather warnings.
The ministry is calling on government agencies, private organizations, and community members to actively participate in Environment Week activities to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and encourage positive environmental practices. This collective effort aims to promote environmental awareness and inspire action towards building a more sustainable future.
