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Leaders
27-03-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Saudi Green Initiative Day: Fostering Culture of Environmental Responsibility
Saudi Arabia celebrates its second annual Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Day today, March 27, commemorating the launch of the initiative in 2021 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the SGI Higher Committee. The day highlights the Kingdom's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, climate action, and green development under the ambitious SGI vision. Saudi Green Initiative The Saudi Green Initiative is a nationwide effort to drive measurable environmental action, enhancing quality of life in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. By integrating environmental protection, energy transition, and sustainability programs, SGI focuses on reducing emissions, expanding afforestation, restoring land, and safeguarding Saudi Arabia's terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Through a comprehensive approach, SGI plays a pivotal role in advancing regional and global sustainability collaboration. Under this year's theme, 'Promoting a Culture of Environmental Stewardship,' SGI Day highlights the power of collective action, uniting citizens, government entities, businesses, and nonprofits to tackle environmental challenges. The celebration concludes a month-long campaign, showcasing nationwide efforts toward sustainability. Community Engagement, Awareness Campaigns Throughout March, communities across the Kingdom participated in sustainability initiatives, supported by two major SGI awareness campaigns: #GreenRamadan encouraged individuals to share sustainable practices during Ramadan, such as reducing food waste, conserving water, and saving energy. Today, an interactive live mosaic on the SGI Day website highlights these inspiring actions, with contributions continuing beyond Ramadan. #PawsToChangeChallenge, led by SGI's mascot Namour, motivated Saudi youth to adopt and share simple yet impactful sustainable habits on social media. Building on Global Momentum SGI Day 2025 follows the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, held alongside COP16 Riyadh last December. Additionally, the forum strengthened dialogue among policymakers, business leaders, and experts on addressing environmental challenges and advancing green transformation. Key Achievements, Progress The investments exceeding SAR 705 billion, SGI is driving 85+ initiatives across all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia, making significant strides toward its goals: Renewable Energy: 6.6 GW of clean energy capacity was added to the grid, with 44.2 GW under development. Emission Reduction: The Liquid Fuel Displacement Program operates four natural gas power plants (5.6 GW total), supporting the Kingdom's 2030 energy mix goals. Afforestation & Land Restoration: 115 million trees planted and 118,000 hectares of degraded land rehabilitated (equivalent to 165,000+ football fields) as of 2024. Wildlife Conservation: Over 7,500 endangered animals, including the Arabian oryx, gazelles, ibex, houbara, and cheetahs, have been reintroduced through 10+ breeding and rewilding programs. Moreover, these milestones reflect Saudi Arabia's steadfast commitment to a sustainable future, balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and reinforcing its leadership in global sustainability efforts. For more details, visit SGI Day's official website. Related Topics : Saudi Arabia to Mark Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27 Enhancing Afforestation: Saudi Green Initiative to Incorporate All Environmental Projects 1 Billion Trees Project Launches as Part of Saudi Green Initiative Preview: Saudi Arabia in Tough Mission against Japan in World Cup Qualifiers Short link : Post Views: 19
Arab News
26-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Celebrating SGI Day: a journey of progress, unity, and bold ambition
The path to climate action is too often hindered by divisiveness and doubt. But in Saudi Arabia, we are not waiting for consensus — we are creating it. With optimism as our compass, pragmatism as our guide, and responsibility as our strength, the Kingdom is charting a course to build a better, greener world with an unwavering commitment. Not simply with words, but with action. The Saudi Green Initiative is a living testament to what purposeful progress can lead to… grounded in the belief that climate action needs not to be a distant hope — but part of today's agenda, fueled by the power of our collective will. This week, we celebrate the second annual SGI Day. It is a day to take a moment to recognize how far we have come. But also, to focus on what comes next and where we need to go to build a sustainable tomorrow. To come together with a shared sense of purpose. SGI Day is not just a commemoration. It is a rallying call across our nation and a reminder that everyone can play a part in a greener future. We will celebrate progress, not as milestones, but as inspirations for bolder steps, bigger dreams, and unrelenting momentum. Since its inception in 2021, the Saudi Green Initiative has led to unprecedented transformation and bold action. We are slashing emissions, planting forests where once there was only sand, and safeguarding our land, coastlines, and seas with determination. Last year, the Kingdom stood tall on the global stage, hosting the 16th Conference of the Parties, or COP16, to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification — the largest gathering of its kind. Nearly 200 nations united in a shared mission to heal the earth. The result? Over $12 billion pledged to combat drought and restore degraded landscapes — yet another example of Saudi Arabia's work as a force for good and its role as a bridge for global cooperation, uniting diverse interests in a common cause. At home, the fruits of SGI are blooming vividly. We are making rapid progress toward our renewable energy goals, with a portfolio now surpassing 44 gigawatts — 6.6 GW already lighting up more than a million homes. Imagine: a million families powered by the sun and wind, a million lives benefiting from the promise of clean energy. That is something that would have been considered a fantasy just a few years ago. Meanwhile, our hands are deep in the soil, planting over 115 million trees and breathing life into 118,000 hectares of once-barren land as we march toward our audacious goal of 10 billion trees planted, restoring 40 million hectares of degraded land — an area larger than Germany — a vision as vast as our horizons. And in our wild places, conservation continues to triumph with over 7,500 endangered animals roaming free once more, and cheetah cubs — born on Saudi soil for the first time in over 40 years — symbolizing nature's rebirth. These are stories of resilience and a narrative of a nation reaffirming its bond with the planet. Yet our gaze is fixed firmly on the future. In 2025, the world will gather at COP30 to weigh our collective progress — a moment that will shape the course of global climate action. As the current UNCCD Presidency holder, Saudi Arabia will not merely participate — we will lead. Desertification and land degradation are not abstract threats; they strike at the heart of economies, communities, and lives. We will champion solutions that will reverberate far beyond our borders, proving that environmental stewardship is inseparable from human prosperity. SGI Day is more than a celebration — it is a clarion call. To governments, we say: act with courage. To businesses, we urge: innovate with purpose. To every individual, we invite: join us with conviction. The road to sustainability is not paved by a single triumph but by the steady drumbeat of action — day after day, choice after choice. The future is not something that comes at us; it's something we create. Saudi Arabia is indeed creating that future, not with words alone, but with solutions that stand as proof: climate action is not a dream — it is a reality we are building together. The years ahead will test us all with defining choices. Saudi Arabia's choice is unwavering: to harness our momentum, pioneer answers, and deliver impact that endures. SGI Day embodies that resolve — a beacon of optimism, a commitment to action, and a promise that the greatest force for change lies within each of us. Let us seize the day together and show the world what is possible when a nation harnesses its potential. Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud is Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US.
Arab News
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Eastern Province governor launches Green East initiative
RIYADH: Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz recently inaugurated the Green East initiative, a project designed to expand vegetation cover and combat desertification across the region. The governor also launched the Eastern Province Afforestation Office, which will coordinate efforts to meet national environmental sustainability targets under Saudi Arabia's Green Initiative. Yousef Al-Badr, director-general of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification's Eastern Province branch, said the initiative aligns with broader efforts to rehabilitate land, enhance biodiversity, and improve quality of life. He emphasized that the project extends beyond tree planting to include long-term desertification mitigation strategies. Prince Saud witnessed the signing of four memoranda of understanding to advance the Green East initiative. The agreements include partnerships with the Eastern Province Municipality to integrate green spaces into urban planning and a collaboration with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University for sustainable land management research. Additional signatories include the Eastern Province Council for Social Responsibility, tasked with mobilizing community engagement, and the Friends of the Environment Society, which will lead public awareness campaigns. The agreements were signed by Turki Al-Tamimi, deputy governor of the Eastern Province, and Al-Badr, who thanked the governor for his support, reiterating the center's commitment to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 environmental goals. The Green East initiative is under the umbrella of the Saudi Green Initiative, launched in 2021. Through SGI, Saudi Arabia aims to proactively address climate impacts by planting 10 billion trees and rehabilitating 74 million hectares of degraded land. This nationwide effort seeks to revive ecosystems, improve air quality, reduce sandstorms, and enhance natural carbon capture. Efforts across the Kingdom are already having a positive impact: Over 100 million trees and shrubs have been planted since 2021, alongside the rehabilitation of 118,000 hectares of degraded land. Studies project a temperature decrease of up to 2.2°C in city centers due to expanded tree canopy cover, while more than 1,150 field surveys have been conducted nationwide to support the 10 billion trees program. The Green East initiative exemplifies SGI's 'whole-of-society' approach, combining afforestation, research, urban greening, and community participation to drive sustainable environmental progress.
Express Tribune
04-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, IMF open talks for review of $7bn bailout deal
Listen to article Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have officially initiated discussions for the first review of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) secured last year. According to the Ministry of Finance, the IMF delegation, led by Nathan Porter, met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad. The meeting focused on the overall economic situation in the country. During the meeting, Pakistan has assured the global lender of its commitment to fiscal discipline and economic reforms as talks continue in Islamabad for the latest economic review. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb briefed the IMF delegation on the country's macroeconomic situation, revenue collection, and progress on structural reforms. He reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to meeting the conditions of its $7 billion loan programme. The discussions covered Pakistan's economic performance in the first half of the current fiscal year, with officials presenting data on fiscal deficit, primary balance, revenue collection, and provincial surpluses. The IMF team also reviewed Pakistan's Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) expenditures and proposed budgetary adjustments. Officials from the finance ministry, planning commission, and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) participated in the talks, providing insights into tax collection efforts and government spending. The IMF delegation was also briefed on Pakistan's Green Initiative, highlighting climate change-related fiscal strategies. The meeting was attended by senior IMF officials, including review mission head Nathan Porter. Pakistani authorities assured the delegation that structural reforms in taxation and the energy sector are being implemented to ensure economic stability. Sources indicate that the IMF is expected to present its recommendations for Pakistan's upcoming federal budget. The finance ministry has already submitted a compliance report outlining progress on loan conditions, including measures to control the fiscal deficit and improve external financing. The IMF team will continue discussions with other ministries and financial institutions before concluding the review process. Pakistan's agreement with the IMF remains crucial as it seeks further loan disbursements under the programme to stabilise foreign exchange reserves and maintain investor confidence. Previously, the IMF called for a crackdown on tax evasion in Pakistan's real estate sector as negotiations begin for the release of a $1 billion loan tranche in Islamabad. This demand is part of the ongoing discussions aimed at securing the next tranche of the $7 billion loan program. As part of the plan, authorities intend to take action against individuals involved in declaring false property values, with penalties including imprisonment and fines. Agents failing to register properties could face fines of up to Rs 500,000, while those providing false information could be fined between Rs 200,000 and Rs 500,000. The Real Estate Regulatory Authority will be empowered to impose prison sentences of up to three years. The negotiations for the loan tranche will continue until March 15, 2025, and are divided into two phases: technical discussions in the first phase, followed by policy-level talks.
