Source: Prime Minister’s Office
The Republic of Yemen participated on Wednesday in the first session of the Ministerial Council for the Middle East Green Initiative, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a delegation led by the Minister of Water and Environment, Engineer Tawfik Al-Sharjabi.
The Minister of Water and Environment emphasized that land degradation, desertification, and drought pose a complex challenge to the Republic of Yemen due to their significant environmental, social, and economic impacts, directly affecting food security and the livelihoods of citizens. He pointed out the importance of the Initiative’s contribution to addressing environmental challenges related to land degradation, desertification, drought, and restoring vegetation cover.
Al-Sharjabi praised the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in coordinating and cooperating with the founding member states of the Initiative and their representatives in the executive committee and the temporary founding working team, who have achieved important milestones in preparing the Initiative’s documents, charter, and its organizational and procedural framework. He noted that the progress made so far has provided the necessary elements and capabilities to launch the implementation phase of the Initiative.
The Minister of Water and Environment affirmed Yemen’s support for the Middle East Green Initiative and its inclusion in relevant national policies and strategies.
The Middle East Green Initiative, launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in October 2021, aims to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East, in addition to supporting the region’s efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, through improving air quality, reducing soil erosion, providing habitats for wildlife, and absorbing carbon dioxide to mitigate the effects of climate change.
