Middle East Green Initiative backs land restoration with $12 billion pledge

January 31, 2026

Reported by AI

Egypt's acting environment minister Manal Awad stated that the ministerial declaration from the second meeting of the Middle East Green Initiative's council reaffirms member states' commitment to regional cooperation against land degradation, desertification, and drought resilience. Awad welcomed the council's call for ambitious national targets on land restoration, praising projects in member countries including Egypt. The Arab Coordination Group pledged $12 billion by 2030 for global projects to restore degraded lands.

The second meeting of the Middle East Green Initiative's ministerial council took place in Jeddah, chaired by Saudi Environment Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, with members from 30 countries attending. The ministerial declaration marks the shift to the initiative's operational phase, including projects to expand vegetation cover and restore degraded lands across member states.

Awad noted that the council urged members to establish ambitious national targets for land restoration and greening efforts, aligned with relevant multilateral environmental agreements. The council commended projects undertaken by member countries, including those in Egypt.

Furthermore, the Arab Coordination Group announced a pledge of $12 billion by 2030 to fund global initiatives for restoring degraded lands and enhancing resilience to drought and desertification. The declaration emphasized the need for multilateral cooperation with regional and international organizations, alongside the vital roles of the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society in tackling land degradation and drought challenges.

The council voiced full support for the outcomes of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification's COP16 summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia, calling it a pivotal moment in garnering global support for actions on land degradation and drought. It also approved rotating the council's presidency among regional members in Africa and Asia from 2027 onward, and welcomed Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Syria as new regional members.

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