Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: In preparation for World Environment Day (WED) on June 5th, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have launched initiatives to tackle desertification, restore land, and build resilience to drought.
“The time to act on reversing ecosystem degradation is now,” said Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, during the launch. She emphasized the urgency of restoring ecosystems and highlighted global commitments to land restoration efforts.
Both campaigns will focus on leadership in land restoration and showcase Saudi Arabia’s dedication to tackling climate change through large-scale regreening and rewilding efforts. The Kingdom is leading the G20 Global Land Initiative and will host the UN’s largest-ever conference on land and drought in December 2024.
World Environment Day 2024 aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and its slogan “We are #GenerationRestoration.” The global community has pledged to restore one billion hectares of land, an area larger than China.
This year’s WED aims to build momentum for climate action by promoting vital ecosystem restoration efforts and supporting the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Established in 1972, World Environment Day is a major platform for environmental outreach, attracting millions of participants worldwide.
