Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry praised on Monday Saudi Arabia’s contributions to climate issues.
Kerry hailed the launch of the Middle East Green Initiative, adding that it is “different - it’s a reflection of the urgency of the moment.”
During his participation at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit in Riyadh, he urged all countries to seek environmental sustainability and carbon emissions’ reduction.
Kerry said: “I would just say to everybody, that this is not about politics. This is not about strategic balance of power… This is very simple. This is about science.”
“Action to combat climate change must be accelerated” through various green investments that exclude carbon, he stressed.
He said no government in the world has the money to fight climate actions alone, and countries need the private sector to support these efforts.
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed said that the summit discussed topics related to environmental sustainability, and clean renewable energy.
She noted that communities as a whole are affected by climate change, water scarcity, global warming, food security, and deforestation, stressing the need to change to the green economy.
“The region also has incredible assets to leverage, which could make it a frontrunner for a post-carbon, resilient, and inclusive economy,” she added.
“In our fight against climate change, failure is a choice – just as climate change was a man-made choice, not a certainty.”
Amina urged all participating countries to submit specific targets to reduce carbon emissions and to review them on a yearly basis.
