Baku, October 27, AZERTAC

In line with its interest in the international human dimensions of environmental development, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has hailed the outcomes of the First Green Middle East Initiative Summit, which was held in Riyadh, amid high-caliber international participation including several state leaders and heads of governments, according to the official website of the Organization.

The Summit aims to promote cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the global community to address the challenges of climate change, form the first Middle East alliance to counter the phenomenon, and support global efforts in this area.

Against this backdrop, ICESCO highly commends the Summit’s resolutions, which are considered a solid step towards a global awareness of the magnitude of environmental threats, as part of Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented active commitment to attract capacities and allocate resources within the framework of “Saudi Green Initiative.” The Kingdom’s efforts follow an approach that champions reversing the ominous environmental situation and aspires to build humans’ capacities to face challenges and anticipate the future in a committed and proactive manner.

ICESCO expresses its appreciation of the ambitious vision of both the Green Middle East Initiative and Saudi Green Initiative, as outlined by HRH Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, which target planting 50 billion trees in the region, as part of the largest reforestation program in the world. The initiatives also aim to reduce carbon emissions by more than 10% of global contributions, achieve net-zero emissions in Saudi Arabia by 2060, and the Kingdom’s allocation of more than 180 billion dollars in investments to implement the promising phase plans of the Saudi Green Initiative for the benefit of humanity as a whole.

Reiterating its appreciation of these initiatives, ICESCO notes that it is preparing for the organization of the 9th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World in 2022, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia, and is in the process of announcing the results of the current edition of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management in the Islamic World. The Organization also expresses its readiness to cooperate with the competent parties in Saudi Arabia as well as other Member and non-Member States to achieve the desired goals of these leading initiatives, notably scoring a lasting global impact, addressing climate change, protecting Planet Earth and nature, and actively contributing to the achievement of international goals in such a way as to support the regional and international mechanisms related to addressing climate crises.