RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental issues is helping to drive green initiatives across the region, the Kingdom’s minister of environment, water and agriculture said.

Speaking at the 18th meeting of the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe in Cairo, Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli underscored the Arab region’s growing environmental momentum.

That surge, led by Saudi Arabia, he said, had driven key initiatives like the Middle East Green Initiative, which seeks to enhance regional collaboration to combat land degradation, protect green spaces, ensure food security and adapt to climate change.

Al-Fadhli praised the center’s efforts to strengthen cooperation between the Arab and European regions and to share environmental and developmental expertise, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The meeting focused on improving the center’s operations and efficiency, with discussions highlighting the need to redefine its goals to meet current and future challenges.

Delegates also reviewed the center’s strategic plans, assessed its institutional and financial capacity for sustained program delivery and explored ways to enhance regional cooperation in the circular economy to support sustainable development goals, the report said.

Al-Fadhli highlighted the Arab region’s efforts to tackle global environmental challenges, with Egypt hosting the 27th UN Climate Change Conference in 2022 and the UAE hosting COP28 in 2023.

Saudi Arabia last year hosted COP16 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and announced the establishment of the Global Water Organization in Riyadh, reflecting the region’s commitment to environmental conservation.

Al-Fadhli reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s dedication to working with environmental stakeholders regionally and globally, to address environmental challenges and promote a sustainable future.