Latest news with #GreenSaudiInitiative
Asharq Al-Awsat
27-03-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
‘Saudi Green Initiative' Day: Progress Continues Toward a Sustainable Environment
Saudi Arabia will celebrate the annual Saudi Green Initiative Day on Thursday, showcasing national efforts to promote environmental sustainability and combat climate change. The event comes as the kingdom makes significant progress toward the initiative's goals, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021. The plan aims to cut carbon emissions, expand green cover, and protect natural resources. The Saudi Green Initiative has achieved significant milestones across various sectors in recent years, according to Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. Since its launch, the kingdom has expanded its protected areas by more than 400%, rising from 4% of the country's territory in 2016 to 18% today. National parks have also seen a dramatic increase, growing 100-fold from 40,000 hectares to 4 million hectares, fostering vegetation across the kingdom. More than 300,000 hectares of degraded land have been rehabilitated through afforestation, protection efforts, and curbing wood-cutting practices, transforming once-barren areas into thriving landscapes. Saudi Arabia has planted around 140 million trees as part of its afforestation efforts, but success is measured by sustainability, not numbers, affirmed Faqeeha. He said all planted trees are native species and rely on renewable water sources, including dams, rainfall, and seawater. Mangroves, which thrive along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts, are a key focus of these efforts. At the latest Green Saudi Initiative annual forum, Saudi Arabia announced five new initiatives worth 225 million riyals ($60 million) and signed 14 memorandums of understanding, coinciding with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16). Faqeeha highlighted the kingdom's global environmental leadership. During its G20 presidency in 2020, Saudi Arabia launched the Global Land Initiative, which was endorsed by all member states. The kingdom also introduced the Global Coral Reef R&D Platform, aimed at restoring coral reefs and advancing research and development, with participation from 100 countries. Investing in the environment yields significant returns, whether social, economic, or environmental, said Faqeeha. He noted that Saudi Arabia has allocated hundreds of billions of riyals to support the Saudi Green Initiative. The initiative focuses on two main pillars: clean energy and carbon emission reductions, and the protection of biodiversity and desertification combat. Investments in these areas exceed 700 billion riyals, with a substantial contribution from the private sector. Additionally, Saudi Arabia launched the Environmental Fund, one of the largest environmental funds in the region, aimed at promoting sustainable environmental practices. The kingdom also adopted a National Environmental Strategy, comprising 64 initiatives covering various environmental sectors, including natural and marine habitat conservation, pollution reduction, enhanced meteorological services, and waste management. Speaking recently to Asharq Al-Awsat, Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy, highlighted that Saudi Arabia's investments and commitments within the Saudi Green Initiative encompass over 85 initiatives and projects, valued at more than $180 billion, underscoring the kingdom's dedication to achieving a sustainable environmental transformation.
Arab News
21-03-2025
- Science
- Arab News
How Saudi women are turning sand into soil
In the vast deserts of the Kingdom, something remarkable is happening. Barren sand is being transformed into fertile soil, and at the heart of this transformation are Saudi Arabia women. As a scientist working in sustainability, I expected to be part of an ambitious vision for environmental restoration. What I did not expect was that women would be leading this effort, applying cutting-edge science to revive the land. Saudi Arabia is at a defining moment in its sustainability journey. With Vision 2030's Green Saudi Initiative, the Kingdom is making bold investments in reforestation, food security, and climate-resilient agriculture. But what often goes unrecognized is that Saudi women are leading it. Saudi women now make up 40 percent of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, graduates, outpacing many Western countries. But they are not just entering labs. They are leading groundbreaking projects in land restoration, from researching water-saving solutions to applying innovative soil technology. Their presence is growing in some of the Kingdom's most critical sectors, including climate science, sustainable agriculture, and land restoration. In my own work, I see this firsthand. Whether in research labs, universities, or the field, Saudi women are leading projects that turn deserts into fertile land, improve water conservation, and develop solutions for a greener future. One of Saudi Arabia's biggest environmental challenges is desertification — the loss of arable land due to climate conditions and soil degradation. It requires scientific breakthroughs, innovation, and long-term commitment. Across the country, Saudi women are rising to meet it. Whether in research labs, universities, or the field, Saudi women are leading projects that turn deserts into fertile land, improve water conservation, and develop solutions for a greener future. Orn Supaphol At Saudi Desert Control, we use Liquid Natural Clay to turn desert sand into fertile soil by increasing its ability to retain water and nutrients. Women scientists and engineers are leading the application of this technology, ensuring that Saudi Arabia can produce food sustainably in one of the world's most arid climates. Across the Kingdom, female researchers and agricultural engineers are reducing water consumption, implementing regenerative farming techniques, and introducing climate-resilient crops. Science thrives on diverse perspectives. In sustainability and agriculture — fields that directly impact communities — the inclusion of women leads to better decision-making, smarter solutions, and long-term resilience. Many of the most forward-thinking, practical solutions I have encountered in Saudi Arabia come from female scientists and engineers. Their leadership is making Saudi Arabia's sustainability push more effective, inclusive, and future-proof. Saudi Arabia's transformation is often spoken of as something coming in the future. But working alongside incredible female colleagues, I can confidently say the future is already here. Saudi women are not just part of this change — they are turning sand into soil and shaping a more sustainable world. I for one celebrate the women leading STEM fields, restoring land, conserving resources, and ensuring that Saudi Arabia's next chapter is one of sustainability. To the young women of Saudi Arabia pursuing science and sustainability — your work will define the future. And the future is now. • Orn Supaphol is chief technical officer at Saudi Desert Control.
