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Saudi Green Building Forum Launches Roadmap to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The High-Level Political Forum of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations in New York (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The High-Level Political Forum of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations in New York (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Green Building Forum Launches Roadmap to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The High-Level Political Forum of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations in New York (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The High-Level Political Forum of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations in New York (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Green Building Forum launched a roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which is being held in New York from July 8-18.

“The commitment to sustainable practices and green business initiatives is crucial for achieving the goals outlined in the ‘Urgent Green Actions for Global Agenda 2030,’” said Faisal Al-Fadl, Secretary-General of the Saudi Green Building Forum.

He added: “We emphasize this commitment on sustainable practices and green initiatives that play a vital role in creating a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future.”

According to Al-Fadl, in 2022, buildings were responsible for 34 percent of global energy demand, 37 percent of carbon dioxide emissions related to energy and operations, and about 21 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, while investment in building decarbonization exceeded the amount of USD285 billion, with expectations of a lower cost in the future.

“We recognize the role of green building standards and certifications as a tool for shaping policies to support the elimination of carbon emissions across the life cycle of buildings and setting building renovation priorities,” he stated, underlining a firm commitment to sustainability through advocacy, collaboration and practical action, “paving the way towards a more resilient, equitable and sustainable built environment.”

The United Nations stressed the importance of partnerships in achieving the sustainable development goals, while the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan, which Saudi Arabia adopted with all 193 United Nations member states in 2015, stipulated that the goals cannot be achieved without partnerships.

According to the UN Political Forum, the UN agenda recognizes that governments alone cannot confront the global challenges set forth in the Sustainable Development Goals, and that cooperation across sectors is essential. In this context, the “Saudi Green Building Forum” has strengthened its role as an observer at the United Nations, in shaping the UN climate and environmental response.

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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.