Program, Speakers Revealed for Saudi Green Initiative Forum at COP28

Taking place on December 4 during COP28 in Dubai, this year’s Forum maintains the theme “From Ambition to Action” for a consecutive year. (SPA)
Taking place on December 4 during COP28 in Dubai, this year’s Forum maintains the theme “From Ambition to Action” for a consecutive year. (SPA)
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Program, Speakers Revealed for Saudi Green Initiative Forum at COP28

Taking place on December 4 during COP28 in Dubai, this year’s Forum maintains the theme “From Ambition to Action” for a consecutive year. (SPA)
Taking place on December 4 during COP28 in Dubai, this year’s Forum maintains the theme “From Ambition to Action” for a consecutive year. (SPA)

The program and speakers for the third edition of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum was revealed on Friday.

Taking place on December 4 during COP28 in Dubai, this year’s Forum maintains the theme “From Ambition to Action” for a consecutive year. The event will convene an elite lineup of influential figures, climate experts, senior government officials, and CEOs to share their insights and discuss what more can be done to address climate challenges.

Speakers confirmed to be taking part include William Thomas Winters, CEO, Standard Chartered, Dr. Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO, World Energy Council, Olivier Le Peuch, CEO, Schlumberger, and François Jackow, CEO, Air Liquide, and a number of Saudi government officials.

The forum’s program will focus on multiple key themes, including innovating and scaling up clean energy solutions, the Red Sea’s ecosystem, financing climate action, and protecting terrestrial and marine areas in the Kingdom.

The forum also presents a unique opportunity for diverse stakeholders to engage in dialogue, share insights, and showcase innovative approaches to addressing climate challenges, and supporting global action.

The forum will feature a series of panel discussions that will explore the key themes under four event pillars: "Industrial Plays,The Financial Architecture of Tomorrow,” "Innovative Transitions," and "Coherence for Impact.”

The sessions will examine critical topics, including clean energy scaling, desertification mitigation, climate technology innovation, safeguarding the Red Sea, sustainable urban planning, CCUS and hydrogen technology, and ESG investments. In the year of the global stocktake, the SGI Forum 2023 will be an important platform to accelerate global efforts to address climate challenges.

In addition to the forum, the Saudi Green Initiative Gallery will be open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm throughout the COP28 conference, except for the day of the SGI Forum (December 4). The Gallery will showcase Saudi Arabia’s range of initiatives and projects working to deliver a greener, more sustainable future, underscoring the Kingdom’s enduring commitment to climate action.

This year, the Saudi Green Initiative is premiering an interactive speaker series called SGI Talks, to offer a wider audience access to different aspects of the climate action conversation and encourage dialogue. The series will engage with the major sustainability trends of the future, complementing the wider COP28 agenda. Talks will include a range of topics, including new technologies transforming energy efficiency.

The SGI Gallery will display the breadth and depth of climate action initiatives taking place across Saudi Arabia and the range of entities, projects and individuals behind these efforts. Visitors to the SGI Gallery will discover how the Kingdom is progressing towards its targets and learn more about the multitude of sustainable initiatives already delivering impact across the country.



OIC Welcomes Inclusion of Israeli Occupation Authorities, Entities on UN Blacklist

OIC Welcomes Inclusion of Israeli Occupation Authorities, Entities on UN Blacklist
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OIC Welcomes Inclusion of Israeli Occupation Authorities, Entities on UN Blacklist

OIC Welcomes Inclusion of Israeli Occupation Authorities, Entities on UN Blacklist

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the annual report of the United Nations Secretary-General, which included the listing of the Israeli occupation authorities and institutions among parties suspected of committing patterns of conflict-related sexual violence, based on documented information, testimonies, and evidence collected and verified through approved and specialized UN mechanisms, SPA reported.

The general secretariat described this step as a legal and humanitarian victory for Palestinian victims and a fundamental contribution to advancing justice, accountability, and ending the prolonged state of impunity.

The OIC general secretariat renewed its call for the international community to take firm measures to put an end to all ongoing crimes and violations committed by the Israeli occupation, hold those responsible accountable under international criminal law, and work to provide international protection for the Palestinian people.


Saudi Defense Minister Conveys Leadership’s Condolences on Death of Former Yemeni President

The Saudi Minister of Defense during his meeting with the family of the deceased, led by his brother Major General Nasser Mansour Hadi (SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Defense during his meeting with the family of the deceased, led by his brother Major General Nasser Mansour Hadi (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Conveys Leadership’s Condolences on Death of Former Yemeni President

The Saudi Minister of Defense during his meeting with the family of the deceased, led by his brother Major General Nasser Mansour Hadi (SPA)
The Saudi Minister of Defense during his meeting with the family of the deceased, led by his brother Major General Nasser Mansour Hadi (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz conveyed the condolences of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the family of former Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi following his death.

During a meeting with the family in Riyadh, Prince Khalid expressed his deepest condolences to the family and to Yemen, its leadership, and its people.

The minister praised the late president’s leadership and his dedication to Yemen’s security, stability, development, and prosperity.

Prince Khalid prayed to Allah Almighty to bestow His mercy and forgiveness upon the deceased, grant him Paradise, and provide his family and the Yemeni people with patience and solace.

He also prayed for continued security and stability for Yemen and its people.


Saudi Hajj Minister Discusses Improvements, Preparations for Next Season

Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reviewed key opportunities and development initiatives for the Hajj season during the meeting. (SPA)
Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reviewed key opportunities and development initiatives for the Hajj season during the meeting. (SPA)
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Saudi Hajj Minister Discusses Improvements, Preparations for Next Season

Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reviewed key opportunities and development initiatives for the Hajj season during the meeting. (SPA)
Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah reviewed key opportunities and development initiatives for the Hajj season during the meeting. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah met on Friday with representatives of Hajj companies in Mina to evaluate performance, discuss areas for improvement, and begin early preparations for next year’s Hajj.

Al-Rabiah praised the support provided to the Hajj by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, saying their backing has helped in improving services for pilgrims and boosting their overall experience.

He commended the ongoing supervision and follow-up by Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, which he said helped strengthen coordination and improve operational efficiency during the Hajj season.

Al-Rabiah stressed that preparations for next year’s pilgrimage begin before the current season ends, reflecting the Hajj system’s continuous-work approach aimed at improving service quality and elevating the experience of pilgrims.

The minister stressed the importance of building on the successes achieved during this year’s Hajj and benefiting from lessons learned, performance indicators, and pilgrim satisfaction surveys.

Continuous development remains a core principle of the system serving the pilgrims, he declared.

The meeting reviewed several development initiatives related to digital services, contracting mechanisms, improving the pilgrim experience, and increasing the efficiency of services in housing, transportation, crowd movement, and support services.

The meeting falls within the ministry’s broader efforts to prepare early for the next Hajj season in line with the leadership’s directives to care for pilgrims and continue developing the Hajj system in a way that supports the objectives of the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030, and enhances the pilgrim experience throughout every stage of the spiritual journey.