During the 20th session of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen AlFadley delivered Saudi Arabia's speech. The conference has held today in Hurghada, Egypt.
AlFadley confirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is dedicated to endorsing local, regional, and international efforts in mitigating marine pollution and addressing pressing environmental concerns with a firm focus on providing optimal conditions for growth and stability in the region.
“Recognizing the gravity of global environmental challenges, Saudi Arabia has taken the initiative to adopt several noteworthy programs. Notable among them is the Middle East Green Initiative, which has successfully developed a comprehensive roadmap aimed at preserving the environment and combatting climate change,” said AlFadley. “At the international level, Saudi has also joined the World Oceans Union and the Alliance for the elimination of plastic waste in oceans. In addition, the Kingdom has established a non-profit institution to explore and study seas and oceans and a regional center for the sustainable development of fisheries.”
AlFadley added that these environmental endeavors form a significant part of Saudi Arabia's initiatives, which focus on enhancing biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, combating land degradation, and improving the quality of life within the region and beyond. Pursuing a circular carbon economy approach, the Kingdom has set a progressive goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2060.
Furthermore, in collaboration with its partners, Saudi Arabia is participating to establish the Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP). This platform was launched by the G20 leaders during Saudi Arabia's presidency in 2020.
At the end of his speech, AlFadley expressed his appreciation for the organization's efforts in preserving the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden marine environments, His Excellency, the Minister, lauded the valuable work carried out by member states. He expressed hope that the outcomes of this session would contribute to bolstering regional conservation actions and achieving shared goals among regional countries.