His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, announced that the "Saudi Green Initiative" and the "Green Middle East Initiative", which will be launched soon, will chart the Kingdom and the region's direction in protecting the land and nature and putting it on a map. A road with clear and ambitious milestones that will make a strong contribution to achieving global targets.

His Highness the Crown Prince said: As a leading global producer of oil, we are fully aware of our share of the responsibility in advancing the fight against the climate crisis, and that just as our pioneering role in stabilizing energy markets during the oil and gas era is represented, we will work to lead the next green era.

His Highness the Crown Prince added that the Kingdom and the region are facing many environmental challenges, such as desertification, which poses an economic threat to the region (as it is estimated that 13 billion dollars are depleted from sandstorms in the region every year), and that air pollution from greenhouse gases is estimated to be It has reduced the average life of citizens by a year and a half, and through the Saudi Green Initiative, we will work to raise vegetation cover, reduce carbon emissions, combat pollution and land degradation, and preserve marine life.

His Highness indicated that it will include a number of ambitious initiatives, most notably the planting of 10 billion trees within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the coming decades, equivalent to rehabilitating about 40 million hectares of degraded lands, which means an increase in the area covered by the current trees to 12 times, representing the Kingdom’s contribution to more than From 4% of the global initiative to reduce the degradation of land and wild habitats, and 1% of the global target to plant a trillion trees.

It will also work to raise the percentage of protected areas to more than 30% of its land area, which is estimated at (600) thousand square kilometers, to exceed the current global target of protecting 17% of the lands of each country, in addition to a number of initiatives to protect the marine and coastal environment.

His Highness added: The Saudi Green Initiative will also reduce carbon emissions by more than 4% of global contributions, through renewable energy projects that will provide 50% of electricity production in the Kingdom by 2030, and projects in the field of clean hydrocarbon technologies that will eliminate more than 130 million tons of carbon emissions, in addition to raising the rate of waste diversion from landfills to 94%.

His Highness the Crown Prince explained that while there is still much to be done, the Kingdom is determined to make a lasting global impact and based on its pioneering role, it will start work on the Green Middle East Initiative with the sister countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States and the Middle East, and seeks in partnership with Brothers in the countries of the Middle East to plant an additional 40 billion trees in the Middle East, indicating that the program aims to plant (50 billion) trees and is the largest reforestation program in the world, which is twice the size of the Great Green Wall in the Sahel region (the second largest regional initiative of this kind) .

His Highness indicated that this project will restore an area equivalent to (200 million) hectares of degraded land, which represents (5%) of the global goal of planting (1 trillion) trees and will achieve a reduction of (2.5%) of global carbon levels.

His Highness added that the share of clean energy production in the Middle East does not exceed 7% today, and that the technologies used in oil production in the region are not efficient, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will work with these countries to transfer knowledge and share experiences, which will contribute to reducing carbon emissions resulting from oil production. In the region, by more than 60%, His Highness added that these joint efforts will achieve a reduction in carbon emissions by more than 10% of global contributions.

His Highness explained that these two initiatives come in support of the existing environmental efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the previous years in accordance with Vision 2030, in view of the Kingdom's serious desire to face the environmental challenges it has suffered, such as high temperatures, low levels of rain, high waves of dust and desertification, and that it is part of its efforts to promote health. The public and raising the quality of life for citizens and residents, as it carried out a comprehensive restructuring of the environment sector, established the Special Forces for Environmental Security in 2019 AD, raised the coverage rate of natural reserves from 4% to more than 14% and increased vegetation cover in the Kingdom by 40% during the four Over the past years, the Kingdom has also been able to reach the best level of carbon emissions for oil-producing countries, and other initiatives that started on the ground and achieved tangible positive results in the general environmental situation.

His Highness the Crown Prince also noted that these two initiatives also stem from the Kingdom's pioneering role towards common international issues, and as a continuation of its efforts to protect the planet during its presidency of the G20 last year, which resulted in the issuance of a special declaration on the environment and the adoption of the concept of a circular carbon economy, and the establishment of the first group. Special work for the environment in it, and the launch of two international initiatives to reduce land degradation and protect coral reefs.

His Highness the Crown Prince concluded his speech by saying: “I am proud to announce the Saudi Green Initiative and the Green Middle East Initiative, and this is just the beginning. The Kingdom, the region and the world at large need to move forward at an accelerated pace in the fight against climate change. A greener future is easy, but in line with our comprehensive development vision, we do not avoid difficult choices. We reject the misguided choice between preserving the economy or protecting the environment. We believe that working to combat climate change enhances competitiveness, sparks innovation, creates millions of jobs, and demands Today, the rising generation in the Kingdom and the world has a cleaner and more sustainable future, and we owe it to them to provide it, and in this regard the Kingdom will work with all its international partners, including organizations and countries, to develop these two initiatives and the initiatives and timetables that fall within them.

His Highness added that he would announce the details of the Saudi Green Initiative during the next few months, and work to launch a regional gathering in the presence of international partners for the Green Middle East Initiative in the second quarter of next year.