“The future will either be green or not at all.” -Bob Brown
The World Environment Day 2024 commemorates earth restoration under the theme, “Land Restoration, Stopping Desertification and Building Drought Resilience.” It is celebrated annually on the 5th June since 1973, initiated by the UN to observe protecting the environment and raising awareness on issues of our environment, promoting ecological sustainability through various events and drives.
This year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is to host World Environment Day, 2024 with special focus on the theme. As a nation facing degradation, desertification and drought, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is deeply invested in delivering solutions. The Kingdom is acting nationally and regionally through the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. And it is acting globally, as we saw when the Saudi presidency of the G20 resulted in the adoption of the Global Land Restoration Initiative.
Land restoration is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) which is a global rally call to protect and revive the ecosystem to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The need to fight against the crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, pollution and waste has intensified today more than ever. Land restoration can reverse the creeping tide of land degradation, drought and desertification as it can boost livelihoods, lower poverty and builds resilience to extreme weather conditions. Restoration increases carbon storage and slows climate change. Restoring just 15 per cent of land and halting further conversion could avoid up to 60 per cent of expected species extinctions.
Further, bodies like G20 are combating climate change whilst restoring land. Countries have also promised to restore one billion hectares, an area larger than China. Through World Environment Day and through hosting UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s conference of the parties this December, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can build momentum and action towards these restoration goals, slow climate change, protect nature and boost the livelihoods and food security of billions of people around the world.
