Riyadh, September 13, 2023, SPA — The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) said the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024, which is testimony to its role in protecting the environment and raising environmental awareness.
World Environment Day 2024 will focus on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.
UNEP’s Executive Director Inger Andersen said: “We welcome the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as host of World Environment Day 2024 and as a strong partner in global efforts to restore land and achieve drought resilience.”
According to the ministry, Saudi Arabia will highlight the need for urgent global investment in policies and actions that protect and restore nature for a sustainable future.
Under Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency, the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform and the Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats were launched, and the need to unite national and international endeavors in pursuit of environmental sustainability was emphasized. Moreover, the Kingdom highlighted the fact that World Environment Day should serve as a reminder of the significance of collective engagement in preserving the environment.
Saudi Arabia makes efforts to preserve the environment at local and global scales; it has adopted the National Environment Strategy and the new Environmental Law, and is driving Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives.
Furthermore, the Kingdom launched a national environmental awareness initiative, has a dedicated National Environment Week, created five environmental centers, and established an Environmental Fund to secure the sector’s financial stability.
World Environment Day is the UN’s principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Held annually since 1973, the day has also become a vital platform for promoting progress in the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. With the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the helm, over 150 countries participate each year in World Environment Day activities.
–SPA
11:58 Local Time 08:58 GMT
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