Riyadh, September 13, 2023, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would host World Environment Day in 2024, which is evidence of its involvement in promoting environmental awareness and conserving the environment, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA). Land restoration, desertification, and drought resistance will be the main topics of World Environment Day in 2024. According to Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP, "We welcome the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as host of World Environment Day 2024 and as a strong partner in global efforts to restore land and achieve drought resilience."
The ministry states that Saudi Arabia will emphasize the critical need for international investment in laws and initiatives that preserve and restore nature for a sustainable future.
The Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats and the Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform were both launched while Saudi Arabia held the G20 presidency, and the necessity of combining regional and global efforts in the pursuit of environmental sustainability was emphasized. The Kingdom also emphasized that World Environment Day should be a reminder of the importance of everyone working together to protect the environment.
Saudi Arabia works to protect the environment on a national and international level. It has enacted a new environmental law and the National Environment Strategy, and it is leading Saudi and Middle Eastern green initiatives.
Additionally, to ensure the financial security of the industry, the Kingdom established an Environmental Fund, five environmental centers, a national environmental awareness campaign, and a National Environment Week.
The UN uses World Environment Day as its main platform to promote environmental awareness and action on a global scale. Since its inception in 1973, the day has been a staple for advancing the environmental goals of the Sustainable Development Goals. Each year, more than 150 nations take part in World Environment Day festivities under the direction of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
