Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced on Saturday three new projects that will further enhance the Kingdom’s national and regional climate action. The announcement was made during the second day of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum, being held in tandem with COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh.
According to Prince Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia will launch the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) Knowledge Hub, establish a regional center to advance emissions reductions, and host MENA Climate Week 2023.
The minister made the announcement during a SGI panel discussion that included Mariam Almheiri, UAE minister of climate change and environment, Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian minister of foreign Affairs and COP27 president and Alok Sharma, the president of last year’s global climate summit in Glasgow (COP26).
Prince Abdulaziz revealed that the Kingdom is working with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to host the next MENA Climate Week in 2023. The event will bring together key regional and global stakeholders to explore challenges and opportunities, as well as showcase innovation and solutions.
“We must examine the causes of the energy insecurity and its impact on the global economy,” Prince Abdulaziz told the panel discussion’s audience.
He moved on to affirm that “Saudi Arabia has a presence in all global platforms.”
“The Kingdom is concerned with protecting energy security and the well-being of the global economy as a reliable supplier of fossil energy, at the same time it believes in sustainability, the future and climate protection,” said Prince Abdulaziz.
“We are part of the world, and we need to think and cooperate together,” he stressed.
Almheiri congratulated Saudi Arabia for its green initiatives and projects and urged accelerated climate action to face arising challenges.
“We need to move faster,” said Almheiri about climate action.
Sharma also praised Saudi efforts for reaching carbon neutrality.
