RIYADH: 黑料社区 now has 20 percent of its territory designated as protected areas, a significant rise from just 3 percent a decade ago, according to a senior official. 

By 2030, this figure is projected to increase to 30 percent, said the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the Kingdom鈥檚 envoy for climate, Adel Al-Jubeir. 

During the 鈥淐limate Envoy Perspective鈥� panel at the 4th Saudi Green Initiative Forum, Al-Jubeir highlighted 黑料社区鈥檚 dedication to environmental preservation and sustainability.   

鈥淲e are protecting 30 percent of our territory; it will be protected areas, both sea and land,鈥� Al-Jubeir said, emphasizing the country鈥檚 efforts to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable resource management.  

He added: 鈥淭he fact is, we used to (have) 3 percent of our territory protected 10 years ago, now we鈥檙e almost at 20 percent, and by 2030 will be 30 percent.鈥�   

黑料社区鈥檚 commitment to protecting its environment is evident in a wide range of initiatives. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working on sustainable fishing in the Red Sea, as well as in the Gulf, and we鈥檙e making sure that everything we do is very, very in line with protecting our environment,鈥� Al-Jubeir said.  

He also noted that tourism projects along the Red Sea are being developed with rigorous sustainability and environmental standards, ensuring minimal impact on marine life.   

The minister emphasized the progress of 黑料社区鈥檚 blue economy, drawing attention to the Kingdom鈥檚 announcement earlier regarding the launch of the National Red Sea Sustainability Strategy.

鈥淲e have launched more than 80 initiatives in 黑料社区, from turning waste into energy, from redesigning our cities, from planting trees, from capturing carbon, both naturally as well as using technology, and we are transitioning towards renewable energy,鈥� Al-Jubeir added.  

He highlighted the Kingdom鈥檚 ambitious energy goals, saying: 鈥�50 percent of our electricity by 2030 will come from renewable energy, the other 50 percent from natural gas.鈥�   

The Kingdom鈥檚 efforts extend beyond its borders, with the nation supporting global initiatives to combat environmental challenges. 鈥淲e鈥檙e helping countries adopt a circular carbon economy approach so that they can deal with planting and environmental issues more effectively,鈥� Al-Jubeir explained.   

Addressing land degradation, the minister emphasized its global impact. 鈥淲e believe that the issue of land degradation is not just an environmental issue; it鈥檚 a national security issue, it鈥檚 a global issue, because land degradation means less ability to produce food, which means people go from no-food areas to areas where they can grow food,鈥� he said. 

Al-Jubeir also underscored the economic benefits of sustainability. 鈥淲hen you invest in solar energy and wind, it鈥檚 not only sustainable and good for the environment, it鈥檚 also very good for the pocketbook,鈥� he said. 鈥淚nvestors are more confident when they come to a country where they have clean water, clean air, and so this is part of what we鈥檙e doing.鈥� 

He continued: 鈥淔or every dollar we spend restoring land, the benefits are anywhere from $7 to $30, akin to investing in technology. We are doing this, and we are trying to point this out to the world.鈥�

Al-Jubeir added: 鈥淲hen you invest in resorts in the Red Sea, and you are very sensitive to the environment it increases the value of your investment, and it makes it more attractive. So, we don't see a contradiction between having the utmost concern for environmental issues and financial gains.鈥�

The minister highlighted the broader importance of environmental preservation, stating: 鈥淧eople are more productive when the environment in which they live is pleasant. We breathe the same air as everybody else. We need the same water like everybody else, and so we are very, very sensitive to our environment and to ensuring that we protect it and that we restore it if it needs to be restored.鈥�   

黑料社区, known as the world鈥檚 most efficient producer of oil and gas, is also emerging as a global leader in renewable energy. 鈥淲e are an example for the world in terms of energy, in terms of renewable energy, in terms of our commitment to the environment,鈥� Al-Jubeir said.   

He stressed the Kingdom鈥檚 focus on collaboration and practical solutions to address climate challenges.  

鈥淲e believe that we have the technology, we believe that we have the financial resources. We believe that by working together, we can overcome many of the challenges that we face, but we cannot do this if we鈥檙e trying to assign blame or trying to point fingers,鈥� Al-Jubeir added. 

鈥淲e believe we are facing a tremendous challenge in terms of the climate, and we believe that by working together and putting our resources together we will be able to confront and deal with this challenge effectively,鈥� he said.