Qatar Takes Part in Preparatory Ministerial Meeting For Second MGI Summit

Riyadh, October 26 (QNA) - The State of Qatar participated in the preparatory ministerial meeting for Second Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit that was held Wednesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a delegation headed by HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani. In his remarks during the meeting, His Excellency the minister underscored the significance of the preparatory meeting for the second MGI that was announced on Oct. 25 2021 and received a crucial international interaction that was reflected in the international engagement that included heads of states, leaders and decision makers worldwide, pointing out that the increasing interest in climate change issues which remained one of the critical interests of the countries of the whole world, because climate change poses a profound challenge for the mankind due to its potential impacts on the soil, water systems, population, eco-systems and nature and poses a major threat to the future of sustainable development. He considered the Middle East green initiative a major opportunity to further unite the synergized efforts of all countries in the Middle East region, especially the whole world to protect the earth planet against environmental pollution and desertification, including the climate change arising from this phenomenon that poses a threat to life on this planet, adding that such initiative would contribute to enriching the biodiversity in the Middle East region, and represents an opportunity to follow-up the fruitful cooperation with the other relevant regional and international initiatives with the objective of reducing the effects of the climate change phenomenon and achieve the sustainable development goals, affirming that the State of Qatar supports the joint action as a core pillar to counter the challenges facing the regional territory, where the State of Qatar had announced its support last year for MGI through planting 10 million trees by the year 2030. His Excellency the minister noted that the State of Qatar prioritizes the environmental sustainability through its national strategy that focused on five environmental priorities which aims to reduce emissions causing the greenhouse, improves air quality, enhances the preservation of biodiversity, ensures the sustainable and integrated management of water resources, achieves the sustainable management of wastes and recycling and improves the lands productivity, pointing out that the State of Qatar has launched the National Climate Change Action Plan 2030, and is currently working to hold the first tournament of world cup on the land of the State of Qatar which is free of carbon footprint. His Excellency Minister of Environment and Climate Change welcomed all efforts devoted to preparing the second MGI summit until the promised goals are achieved for the benefit of mankind. At the end of the meeting, the charter and governance document of MGI has been approved, which includes the regional governance of the initiative and its scope of work to be a consolidated framework for cooperation and regional integration in pursuit of achieving its goals to reduce land degradation, combating of desertification, develop the vegetation cover and biodiversity, strengthen the adaptation to climate change, food security and social well-being for the peoples of the region, in addition to countering the global environmental challenges in cooperation with the countries and partners from outside the region. The meeting included a range of Middle East countries and North Africa, including the international organizations with the objective of preparing for the launch of the second version of MGI summit which is set to be convened in the Egyptian city Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022, in conjunction with the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition, MGI aims to boost the regional cooperation, work on projects that contribute to enhancing the sustainable development, reduce the land degradation and conserve the vegetation cover of forests, pastures and agricultural lands, in addition to diffusing the innovative solutions to achieve the sustainable development goals. (QNA)