Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced on Sunday campaigns to combat desertification, restore ecosystems, and strengthen drought resilience.
These efforts are ahead of global WED celebrations on June 5 in Riyadh. The announcement was made at the opening of Environment Week 2024 in Riyadh. The campaign will run up to its celebration date.
The inauguration of Environment Week 2024 was announced by Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley. Environment Week is an annual event that aims to raise environmental consciousness among individuals and is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
During the event, Deputy Minister for Environment Dr. Osama Faqeeha emphasized the shared responsibility in addressing land degradation and combating desertification. The responsibility extends to policymakers, the private sector, and civil society organizations globally, working together to restore agricultural areas, rehabilitate land, and tackle desertification and drought.
Dr. Faqeeha noted that during World Environment Day, Saudi Arabia will shed light on the urgent need for global investments in conserving nature, restoring lands, and striving towards sustainability.
He highlighted the importance of uniting national and international efforts to safeguard and rehabilitate ecosystems across the globe, aiming to fulfill sustainable development objectives.
“Without action, 95% of land on earth could be degraded within the next 30 years, which could spell disaster for humanity and the planet,” said Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, during the launch of the global campaign.
“We have seen how previous campaigns have catalyzed climate action across the globe. This year, we are calling on people - from the grassroots to governments – to help tackle the climate and extinction crisis we face by restoring the ground we depend on for survival,” she added.
Countries worldwide have committed to restoring one billion hectares of land, aiming to protect 30% of land and sea for nature and restoring 30% of the planet’s degraded ecosystems. Supporting the 2030 Agenda for a sustainable, resilient world, World Environment Day 2024 will boost climate action efforts by gathering support for ecosystem restoration.
