Today, the Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Alfadley, met with the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Her Excellency Inger Andersen. They explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United Nations in various environmental fields, in addition to discussing the Kingdom's preparations to host World Environment Day 2024.
During the meeting, they reviewed Saudi Arabia's efforts in environmental conservation, including its participation in national, regional, and international initiatives. They specifically discussed initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, and the G20 Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats.
The discussion also included assessing the progress in implementing the partnership agreement between the UNEP and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, to support the execution of the National Environment Strategy.
World Environment Day is the United Nations' principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Held annually since 1973, the Day has also become a vital platform for promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals. With the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the helm, over 150 countries participate annually.