G20 Initiatives to Protect Degraded Lands

An underwater scene captured near the coasts of the mega Amaala project, to be established in the Red Sea, western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An underwater scene captured near the coasts of the mega Amaala project, to be established in the Red Sea, western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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G20 Initiatives to Protect Degraded Lands

An underwater scene captured near the coasts of the mega Amaala project, to be established in the Red Sea, western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An underwater scene captured near the coasts of the mega Amaala project, to be established in the Red Sea, western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

At a time safeguarding the planet is at the heart of efforts exerted by the Saudi G20 presidency, an environment-focused event revealed on Thursday that approximately 1.5 billion people are affected by soil degradation.

The losses due to the decline in environmental services related to land degradation are estimated at 6 to 11 trillion dollars annually.

G20 Saudi Arabia is leading the international community in working toward minimizing land degradation and deforestation to conserve biodiversity and meet climate goals.

“We launched a global initiative to promote the rehabilitation of degraded lands and preserve current resources, targeting all countries of the world. It will be led by the G20,” said Saudi Deputy Minister for Environment Dr. Osama Faqeeha.

He said that the Saudi presidency is pursuing collective efforts and taking concrete actions to safeguard the planet.

The deputy minister said conserving the earth’s environment meant protecting marine and terrestrial environments and working towards reducing marine pollution such as plastic littering.

Faqeeha also spoke about preserving the oceans, saying that the human activity and climate change endanger the survival of coral reefs, which are vital for biodiversity.

Without concrete action, it is estimated that “a significant share of coral reefs is at risk,” he said. Coral reefs are under constant threat from pollution and habitat destruction, therefore conserving them “urgently important to ensure protection of our ecosystem.”

“We proposed launching a global initiative to preserve coral reefs,” Faqeeha reaffirmed, adding that the King Abdullah University offered to host the main headquarters for the initiative.

Moreover, land degradation affects about 60 percent of people directly or indirectly and contributes to massive habitat and ecosystem losses, Faqeeha added.

He explained that deforestation and other land use are also responsible for harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, Faqeeha discussed how climate change is one of the most pressing global challenges. The urgency to act increases as the world population continues to grow and emissions rise.

The Saudi G20 presidency is committed to advancing efforts for managing emissions in all sectors and improving synergies between adaptation and mitigation actions, including nature-based solutions such as reforestation and protecting and restoring marine resources.

“There has been significant appreciation of Saudi Arabia on environment preservation,” said the deputy minister.



Dollar Strengthens on Elevated US Bond Yields, Tariff Talks

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
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Dollar Strengthens on Elevated US Bond Yields, Tariff Talks

A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo
A teller sorts US dollar banknotes inside the cashier's booth at a forex exchange bureau in downtown Nairobi, Kenya February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File photo

The dollar rose for a second day on Wednesday on higher US bond yields, sending other major currencies to multi-month lows, with a report that Donald Trump was mulling emergency measures to allow for a new tariff program also lending support.

The already-firm dollar climbed higher on Wednesday after CNN reported that President-elect Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency as legal justification for a large swath of universal tariffs on allies and adversaries.

The dollar index was last up 0.5% at 109.24, not far from the two-year peak of 109.58 it hit last week, Reuters reported.

Its gains were broad-based, with the euro down 0.43% at $1.0293 and Britain's pound under particular pressure, down 1.09% at $1.2342.

Data on Tuesday showed US job openings unexpectedly rose in November and layoffs were low, while a separate survey showed US services sector activity accelerated in December and a measure of input prices hit a two-year high - a possible inflation warning.

Bond markets reacted by sending 10-year Treasury yields up more than eight basis points on Tuesday, with the yield climbing to 4.728% on Wednesday.

"We're getting very strong US numbers... which has rates going up," said Bart Wakabayashi, Tokyo branch manager at State Street, pushing expectations of Fed rate cuts out to the northern summer or beyond.

"There's even the discussion about, will they cut, or may they even hike? The narrative has changed quite significantly."

Markets are now pricing in just 36 basis points of easing from the Fed this year, with a first cut in July.

US private payrolls data due later in the session will be eyed for further clues on the likely path of US rates.

Traders are jittery ahead of key US labor data on Friday and the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, with his second US presidency expected to begin with a flurry of policy announcements and executive orders.

The move in the pound drew particular attention, as it came alongside a sharp sell-off in British stocks and government bonds. The 10-year gilt yield is at its highest since 2008.

Higher yields in general are more likely to lead to a stronger currency, but not in this case.

"With a non-data driven rise in yields that is not driven by any positive news - and the trigger seems to be inflation concern in the US, and Treasuries are selling off - the correlation inverts," said Francesco Pesole, currency analyst at ING.

"That doesn't happen for every currency, but the pound remains more sensitive than most other currencies to a rise in yields, likely because there's still this lack of confidence in the sustainability of budget measures."

Markets did not welcome the budget from Britain's new Labor government late last year.

Elsewhere, the yen sagged close to the 160 per dollar level that drew intervention last year, touching 158.55, its weakest on the dollar for nearly six months.

Japan's consumer sentiment deteriorated in December, a government survey showed, casting doubt on the central bank's view that solid household spending will underpin the economy and justify a rise in interest rates.

China's yuan hit 7.3322 per dollar, the lowest level since September 2023.