RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has joined the Earth Observation Group to help establish a global science-policy alliance for Earth that addresses environmental challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, improves access to science and data, and supports decision-making. Dr. Munir El-Desouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), has said adopting sustainable practices such as green technologies and renewable energy builds a strong economy that protects our environment for future generations. He added, "Saudi Arabia launched the Saudi Green Initiative, with the aim of converting 30% of its lands into nature reserves, planting 10 billion trees, and restoring 40 million hectares of degraded lands." Through the Green Middle East Initiative, Saudi Arabia is also leading regional efforts to plant 40 billion trees to combat desertification, protect ecosystems, and provide food and hope to communities. Dr. Al-Desouki explained that Saudi Arabia had set an ambitious goal to benefit from 90% of waste by 2040, which reduces the land allocated for waste dumping, protects the environment and biodiversity, and reduces biological land degradation. He reviewed the initiatives and projects implemented by Saudi Arabia in the field of environmental, water and agricultural development, such as the biological treatment of seawater at the Yanbu 3 desalination plant, carbon dioxide capture, biomass production for animal feed, extraction of high-value metabolites for medicines, and generation of thousands of tons of sustainable algae biomass, stressing that these projects will work by 2026 to enhance sustainability. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia has won many awards in recognition of its contribution to combating desertification, its commitment to sustainable development, and the promotion of global environmental initiatives; as it won the gold award at the Stevie Awards for Sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa for the year 2024. It also won five awards and achieved world records at Expo Doha 2023 for Horticulture, and won 11 awards at the Green World Awards 2023.
