Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Envoy, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s steadfast commitment to achieving environmental and climate objectives.
He pointed to the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, highlighting their aim to establish a global model for environmental sustainability. “Saudi Arabia’s actions and initiatives are clear, its investments substantial, with over 80 projects totaling more than $180 billion,” he stated.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat during the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh, Al-Jubeir discussed Saudi Arabia’s latest move to address global water challenges through the newly founded Global Water Organization.
Announced by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, this initiative represents a major step in tackling water-related issues worldwide. The organization, approved last year and headquartered in Riyadh, seeks to unify and enhance international efforts to address water challenges holistically. Its mission includes fostering technological innovation, promoting research and development, facilitating the financing of priority projects, and ensuring the sustainability of water resources, while improving access to water for all.
Al-Jubeir emphasized the importance of awareness in combating desertification and rehabilitating degraded lands, highlighting the direct connection between land degradation, climate change, and global stability. He explained that the loss of healthy land reduces the Earth’s capacity to store carbon, thereby increasing emissions and exacerbating climate issues.
“It’s critical to raise awareness about the link between desertification, land degradation, and climate change. Healthy land serves as a vital carbon sink. When land deteriorates, we lose this capacity, leading to heightened carbon emissions globally and severe impacts on humanity,” he explained.
He also pointed out that land degradation negatively affects food security and forces people to migrate from drought-stricken regions to more hospitable areas, often resulting in conflicts and instability.
“This displacement can lead to wars, economic collapse, extremism, and terrorism, further driving migration. In turn, this often triggers political reactions in host countries, destabilizing global security and stability,” he noted.
The minister also reaffirmed that environmental and climate action are among Saudi Arabia’s top priorities as part of its Vision 2030. These efforts, he said, aim to enhance quality of life and create a better future for all of humanity.
