Saudi Arabia works to activate the Green Middle East Initiative

Just after that Saudi Arabia declared its Green Middle East Initiative, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, held discussions with a number of the region’s leaders, and they highlighted the importance of attaining the aims of the environmental project and applauded its influence on their countries and residents.

Indeed, the Green Middle East Initiative that is declared by the Crown Prince on Saturday considered as the largest afforestation program in the world that is tries to face environmental challenges in the region and enhance the quality of life and public health.

In fact, the project’s aim is to increase the percentage of protected areas to more than 30 percent of the land, and surpassing the present global target of 17 percent in each country. It also aims to plant 50 billion trees, improve the efficacy of oil production and enhance the contribution of renewable energy.

Besides, the Saudi initiative would include multiple efforts to protect marine and coastal environment and improve the proportion of natural reserves.

Furthermore, Crown Prince Mohammed held phone discussion with regional leaders and they stressed their support and willingness to work for the achievement of the initiative’s aims.

Otherwise, Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah applauded the Saudi efforts to defend the environment and affirmed his country’s readiness to work with the Kingdom to attain the aims of the initiative.

In this context, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa expressed his thanks to the Crown Prince for the initiative, and highlighted Manama’s willingness to back all efforts in this issue.

Moreover, the King Abdullah II of Jordan greeted the environmental project and showed his country’s willingness to cooperate with the Kingdom to accomplish the wanted aims, while Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi stated that Iraq would support Saudi Arabia to attain what is best for the region.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman also showed their gratitude and support for the Saudi initiative during two separate phone discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, affirmed the importance of the initiative in facing environmental challenges in the region and world.