Third edition of SGI Forum to take place at COP28 in UAE
RIYADH, August 22, 2023
Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) has announced that the third edition of the SGI Forum will take place on December 4, during COP28 at Expo City, Dubai, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support to the global climate agenda.
The SGI Forum will build on both 2021’s inaugural event in Riyadh which unveiled Saudi Arabia’s 2060 net zero commitment, and on last year’s forum held in Egypt, in tandem with COP27, revealing major climate action projects, including the launch of a circular carbon economy knowledge hub, and the establishment of a regional centre for advancing emissions reduction with UNESCWA, an SGI release said.
This year’s SGI Forum will be held during COP28 where it will bring together influential figures, thought leaders, and climate experts from the global climate ecosystem to share their insights and discuss what more can be done to address the climate challenges faced globally.
Climate challenges
In the year of the global stock take, the SGI Forum 2023 will be an important platform to help propel the global effort to address climate challenges forward.
SGI was launched in 2021, as a whole-of-society initiative to enhance Saudi Arabia’s environmental action, in line with the kingdom’s Vision 2030, and create a greener future for all. The initiative demonstrates Saudi’s dedication to addressing environmental challenges facing the country, including high temperatures, low rainfall, dust storms, and desertification.
Under SGI, the kingdom will plant 10 billion trees across the country in the coming decades and designate 30% of the country’s land and sea territories as protected areas by 2030. In addition, Saudi Arabia has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes annually by 2030.
These national goals contribute to achieving ambitious regional targets set out under the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI). Also announced in 2021, MGI’s targets focus on eliminating 670 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) and planting 50 billion trees across the region.-- TradeArabia News Service
