Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have announced campaigns to combat desertification, restore ecosystems, and strengthen drought resilience. These efforts are ahead of global WED celebrations on 5 June in Riyadh. The announcement was made at the opening of Environment Week 2024. The campaign will run up to its celebration date.
The inauguration of Environment Week 2024 was by the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley. Environment Week is an annual event that aims to raise environmental consciousness among individuals and is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
During the event, The Deputy Minister for Environment Dr. Osama Faqeeha emphasized the shared responsibility in addressing land degradation and combating desertification. This responsibility extends to policymakers, the private sector, and civil society organizations globally, working together to restore agricultural areas, rehabilit
ate land, and tackle desertification and drought.
Dr. Faqeeha noted that during World Environment Day, Saudi Arabia will shed light on the urgent necessity for global investments in conserving nature, restoring lands, and striving towards sustainability. He highlighted the importance of uniting national and international efforts to safeguard and rehabilitate ecosystems across the globe, aiming to fulfill sustainable development objectives.
‘Without action, 95 per cent of land on earth could be degraded within the next 30 years, which could spell disaster for humanity and the planet,’ said Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, launching the global campaign at a Saudi Environment Week event in Riyadh.
‘We have seen how previous campaigns have catalyzed climate action across the globe. This year, we are calling on people – from the grassroots to governments – to help tackle the climate and extinction crisis we face by restoring the ground we depend on for survival,’ she added.
Countries worldwi
de have committed to restoring one billion hectares of land, aiming to protect 30% of land and sea for nature and restoring 30% of the planet’s degraded ecosystems. Supporting the 2030 Agenda for a sustainable, resilient world, World Environment Day 2024 will boost climate action efforts by gathering support for ecosystem restoration.
Source: Saudi Press Agency