Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) have strengthened their cooperation in the fields of emissions reduction and global climate action, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
On Sunday, the Saudi Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, met with the UNEP Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, Inger Andersen, in Riyadh. During their meeting, both officials discussed avenues for cooperation on climate action and joint efforts to achieve the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
The two officials reviewed Saudi Arabia’s climate initiatives and efforts, such as the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the Middle East Green Initiative. They also reviewed the Kingdom’s ambitious programs to utilize renewables and reduce emissions through the implementation of the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework.
Furthermore, the meeting saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi Energy Ministry and the UNEP as part of the Regional Cooperation for Emissions Reduction Initiative. The MoU aims to support the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in achieving their climate goals by developing clean energy technologies and policies in accordance with the CCE framework to advance climate action.
The cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry and the UNEP plays a pivotal role in sustainability and climate change. The MoU further advances their common goals of enhancing resource management and reducing carbon emissions by adopting a comprehensive and balanced approach to achieve sustainable development.
Moreover, areas of cooperation include policy research and recommendations, partnerships with international organizations, participation in climate action and CCE events, knowledge and expertise exchange, and development of climate policy frameworks through engaging in regional and global climate activities.
