Saudi Arabia leads climate action with the Middle East Green Initiative, now backed by 11 additional nations aiming to combat desertification and climate change

The Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) has taken a major step forward, with 11 new countries signing on to the region’s most ambitious environmental programme. At the first Ministerial Council session held in Jeddah, representatives from countries including Algeria, Chad, Kenya, Senegal, and others formally joined the initiative, adding weight to the growing regional collaboration on climate change. Saudi Arabia, which leads the initiative, aims to combat environmental challenges such as desertification, drought, and land degradation, while significantly contributing to global climate efforts.

Representatives from a total of 29 countries and international organisations gathered at the council’s inaugural session, a clear indicator of the global interest in addressing the Middle East’s unique environmental issues. Among the newest participants are Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Gambia, Nigeria, Guinea, and the Central African Republic. Notably, the United Kingdom has joined as a non-regional contributor with observer status, reflecting the international reach of the initiative.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, stressed the importance of this collective effort. “Regional collaboration is key to securing our environmental future,” he remarked, underscoring the need for food and water security, biodiversity protection, and ecosystem preservation as central to the initiative’s mission. Al-Fadley pointed out that environmental challenges like desertification and drought affect not only the Middle East but the world at large, making global cooperation essential.

One of the initiative’s primary goals is the planting of 50 billion trees across the Middle East, a monumental project aimed at restoring 200 million hectares of degraded land. Of these, 10 billion trees will be planted within Saudi Arabia’s borders, while the rest will be distributed across the region over the coming decades. The plan is seen as a vital part of both regional and global efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and create more sustainable land management practices.

Launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021, the Middle East Green Initiative represents the first regional alliance of its kind, addressing environmental degradation and climate change on a coordinated scale. The initiative’s charter was finalised in October 2022 during a ministerial meeting of the founding countries, solidifying its foundational goals and the collective vision moving forward.

As part of this new phase of the MGI, the Ministerial Council session approved several key decisions that will enable the programme to move from planning to action. The council formalised the organisational structure and internal policies of the MGI secretariat, appointed the first secretary-general, and designated a trustee for the MGI Fund. These moves were seen as critical in moving the initiative into its implementation phase.

The council’s ministerial statement reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the environmental and socio-economic impacts of desertification and drought across the Middle East. It also expressed excitement for the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), scheduled to take place in Riyadh this December. The session is expected to be a crucial platform for tackling land degradation and drought on a global scale.

Al-Fadley’s remarks during the meeting reflected the initiative’s sense of urgency: “The Middle East has long suffered from environmental challenges that demand immediate, cooperative action. This initiative, and the commitment of these new member nations, signal the start of a stronger regional effort to combat the devastating effects of desertification, drought, and climate change.”

As countries across the Middle East look to the future, the MGI aims to serve as a catalyst for broader regional reforms in environmental governance and sustainable development. By promoting technical and financial support and encouraging further participation from other regional and non-regional countries, the initiative hopes to accelerate its ambitious targets.

Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the initiative positions it as a key player not just in the Middle East but also in the global environmental movement. The Kingdom has committed significant resources to improving the environmental outlook for future generations and ensuring that efforts to combat climate change extend beyond its borders.

The council’s final message called on parties to the UNCCD, along with relevant stakeholders, to actively engage in the outcomes of COP16 in Riyadh. With Saudi Arabia at the helm, the Middle East Green Initiative hopes to make the upcoming conference a turning point for global environmental efforts. The event will focus on addressing the root causes of land degradation, accelerating land restoration, and improving resilience to drought.

This momentum behind the Middle East Green Initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s broader environmental goals. It not only aims to restore the natural landscape of the region but also to lead by example on the world stage in combating climate change. As the initiative grows and gains more participants, it is set to become a cornerstone in the region’s strategy to create a more sustainable and environmentally secure future.