Riyadh:Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held separate telephone conversations with several Arab leaders to discuss regional environmental cooperation and the Middle East Green Initiative, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on wednesday.
According to SPA, the Crown Prince spoke with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Al-Kadhimi ,Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
During the calls, leaders discussed the economic and social implications of climate change, stressing the need for coordinated regional action. The talks also highlighted the role of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative in tackling global environmental challenges through large-scale afforestation, renewable energy transitions, and carbon emission reduction programs.
The Crown Prince reaffirmed the Kingdom’s vision to lead the region into a new green era, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia is committed to balancing its role as a major energy producer with its global environmental responsibilities.
As a leading global oil producer, we are fully aware of our share of responsibility in advancing the fight against the climate crisis, the Crown Prince said during the initiative’s announcement. Just as we have played a key role in stabilizing global energy markets, we now seek to lead efforts in environmental sustainability.
He added that under the Middle East Green Initiative, Saudi Arabia aims to work with GCC and regional partners to plant an additional 40 billion trees, creating what would be the world’s largest afforestation project.
Both the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative form part of the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 framework, aimed at diversifying the economy and enhancing environmental sustainability across the region.