As World Environment Day (WED) approaches on June 5th, 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has initiated ambitious campaigns aimed at combating desertification, restoring land, and boosting drought resilience. The global celebrations for WED will be hosted in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.
World Environment Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, has evolved into the leading international platform for environmental advocacy, spearheaded by UNEP. With millions of participants worldwide, it serves as a vital catalyst for environmental awareness and action.
The theme for WED 2024 underscores the urgent need for land restoration, particularly focusing on combatting desertification and enhancing drought resilience. This initiative aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), which highlights the restoration of ecosystems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At a Saudi Environment Week event in Riyadh, Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, highlighted the critical importance of immediate action to address ecosystem degradation. She highlighted the significance of restoring forests, marshes, and soils, stressing that the current generation may be the last with the opportunity to reverse the destructive course.
Saudi Arabia's campaigns will highlight its commitment to combating climate change by undertaking large-scale regreening and rewilding projects in arid and semi-arid regions. The country's leadership in this regard is evident through initiatives such as the G20 Global Land Initiative and its hosting of COP16, the largest-ever UN conference on land and drought.
The overarching goal of these campaigns is to accelerate progress on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration commitments. With the theme "Our Land, Our Future," WED 2024 in Saudi Arabia aims to promote support for ecosystem restoration efforts, aligning with the global aspiration to restore one billion hectares of land and protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.
WED 2024 will play a major role in moving climate action forward by supporting the 2030 Agenda and encouraging cooperation to protect the environment and people. The event will mobilize individuals, communities, and nations to prioritize ecosystem restoration as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
As World Environment Day continues to evolve as a global platform for environmental advocacy, the initiatives spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and UNEP underscore the collective resolve to address pressing environmental challenges and build a resilient future for generations to come.
