Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Environment, Dr Osama Faqeeha, speaks to 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE’s Hadiza Onido in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; on the country’s Green Vision: Regional Collaboration and Bold Environmental Initiatives. He highlighted a growing commitment within Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East to address environmental challenges through regional collaboration and bold initiatives and calls for greater cooperation with African nations, especially those facing desertification, which underscores the global nature of the climate crisis and the need for unified action. Excerpts:
The Tadhiq National Park project has attracted a lot of attention and controversy, particularly regarding the number of trees planted, with some reports saying 43.9 million, while others claim it’s 90 million. What is the true figure?
To clarify, we had 43.9 million trees as at December 2023 but by our most recent count in 2024, we reached 95 million, and by December 2024, we estimate that the number must have surpassed 100 million trees. We’re making significant progress, and it’s only the beginning.
Your country has an ambitious masterplan to plant 10 billion trees. Could you tell us more about the plan, and where you are in terms of achieving this vision?
The 10-billion-tree initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a broad developmental roadmap launched by our King and Crown Prince in 2016. Environmental sustainability has been a core pillar of this plan since day one. Vision 2030 focuses on sustainable development which is pitched on three main pillars: economic development, social welfare, and environmental sustainability. In 2018, we officially incorporated these pillars into our national development strategy. Along the way, we established five environmental centers, including the National Centre for Combating Desertification responsible for this conference, the National Centre for Waste Management focused on optimum recycling and utilisation to reduce waste disposal, and the National Centre for Wildlife.
Our progress so far is impressive. For example, we’ve increased the protected areas in Saudi Arabia from 4.3 per cent in 2016 to 18 per cent today, with a target of 30 per cent of the Kingdom being a protected area by 2030. We announced the 30 per cent target in 2021, and the global target announced in Montreal Framework was for 2022. Our efforts to combat desertification and restore ecosystems have been successful, surpassing many of our own targets and global benchmarks. On the creation of the billion trees framework, we are not only working nationally but also regionally and globally. We also adopted a national water strategy. As an arid country, water is scarce here so the plan focuses on conserving non-renewable sources while maximising renewable resources. Good agricultural practices adopted by the Kingdom is a key stoke to minimise degradation and maximise sustainable agricultural production. Our National Food Security Agency aims to cut food waste and loss by 50 per cent and strengthen food security. Regionally, we’re aiming to jointly rehabilitate 40 million hectares of land and plant billions of trees as part of the Middle east Green Initiative.
You’ve mentioned a global food waste challenge, with the Kingdom targeting a 50 per cent reduction in food loss and waste. Can you elaborate on why this is so important, particularly from a sustainability perspective?
Indeed, food loss and waste are significant issues. Globally, around a third of all food produced is lost or wasted, and this directly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In the Saudi, the number is also about 30 per cent of food being wasted or lost at various stages from production to consumption. This represents not just a loss of food, but also of the resources used to produce it: land, water, and energy. In Saudi Arabia, we are targeting a 50 per cent reduction in food loss and waste, which will significantly contribute to sustainability efforts and environmental protection. The global food cycle is directly tied to greenhouse gas emissions, so reducing food loss is a crucial part of our climate change mitigation strategy.
You’re overseeing some monumental, interconnected projects. What obstacles have you encountered, and how are you addressing them?
One of the key drivers of our success has been leadership. Saudi Arabia’s government is fully committed to environmental sustainability, and the leadership provides the necessary resources and policies to make it happen. However, one of our main challenges is manpower. While we have made tremendous strides in developing local expertise, we continue to face a rapid need for skilled professionals to carry out our projects. We are working hard to build this capacity and ensure that we have human resources to execute our vision effectively, thanks to strong collaboration, clear communication, and strategic planning, we’re managing to overcome these challenges and stay on track.
On the regional aspect of the Saudi Green Initiative, how are you collaborating with other Middle Eastern countries on these environmental projects?
Our regional collaboration is an integral part of the Middle East Green Initiative. Together with other countries in the region, we aim to rehabilitate 200 million hectares of land, focusing on areas heavily impacted by desertification, particularly in North Africa, West Asia, and Central Asia. Currently, we have 30 regional members, and we’re also working with non-regional members. The key to success in this collaboration lies in the commitment of each country’s government to set clear standards, adopt agreements, and finance projects. By aligning our efforts, we can achieve our shared vision of regional sustainability.
With Nigeria facing significant desertification challenges, particularly in the Sahel region, are there any plans for collaboration with the country to address these environmental issues?
Yes, absolutely. The Middle East Green Initiative has a global reach, and we are particularly focused on Africa. Countries like Ivory Coast, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Sudan are already part of our efforts to restore forests and combat desertification. We are open to expanding our collaboration to include more African nations, and we are very interested in welcoming Nigeria into this fold. The challenges Nigeria faces desertification, land degradation, and water scarcity are precisely the kinds of issues we aim to address through regional cooperation. Starting in January, we will be expanding our collaborations, and we are open to welcoming Nigeria as a member.
What advice would you give to Nigeria in its quest to address desertification and environmental degradation?
My message to Nigeria would be to invest in land, it is our greatest resource. Everything we rely on, from food to livelihoods, springs from the land. Protecting and restoring it is critical to ensuring sustainable development, economic growth, and social welfare. By focusing on sustainable land management practices and green initiatives, Nigeria can address desertification and create a more resilient environment for its people.
