Kenya joins Middle East Green initiative to combat climate change

Kenya has officially joined the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) during an inaugural ministerial meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Announcing on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary for Environment Aden Duale noted that the move demonstrated the country's commitment to tackling climate change through international collaboration.

"Kenya has officially joined the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) during an inaugural ministerial meeting of the multilateral climate change forum held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia," he said.

Alongside Kenya, 10 other nations including Algeria, Chad, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, The Gambia, Nigeria, Guinea, and the Central African Republic participated in the meeting.

The United Kingdom was present with observer status.

Green investments

The MGI, launched in 2021, focuses on environmental action and green investments across Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

During the meeting on Wednesday, the Ministerial Council convened under the leadership of Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

This gathering is a critical milestone in the regional efforts to implement the foundational phase of the initiative and prepare for the establishment of its General Secretariat in Riyadh.

"The Middle East Green Initiative aims to plant 50 billion trees across the region, which represents 5 per cent of the global reforestation goal.

In addition to this ambitious target, the MGI seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 670 million tons, contributing 10 per cent of global efforts.

This will help improve air quality, prevent soil erosion, provide wildlife habitats, and absorb carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change.

Saudi Arabia first introduced the Middle East Green Initiative at its inaugural summit in Riyadh in October 2021.

During the second summit in Sharm El Sheikh in November 2022, the Kingdom announced a financial grant for the initiative and confirmed that the General Secretariat would be based in Riyadh, covering all operational costs for the next ten years.