His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and President of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley took part in the opening of Finance Day during the second day of the conference. COP16 is being held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13, with representatives from over 90 countries participating.
During his speech, Al-Fadley stated, "Saudi Arabia calls for strengthening effective partnerships to create new financing opportunities to support land rehabilitation initiatives and enhance their resilience against drought." He highlighted that financing plays a crucial role in tackling environmental challenges and advancing conservation efforts.
The conference president highlighted Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to tackle environmental challenges at the national, regional, and international levels, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030. He noted that combating land degradation and addressing drought are key priorities in the country's national environmental strategy. Additionally, he emphasized the Kingdom's seek to achieve financial sustainability in the environmental sector through the establishment of the Environment Fund.
The Finance Day included dialogue sessions with the participation of ministers, officials, and experts, focusing on financing land rehabilitation, combating drought, and strengthening partnerships.