Riyadh, 22 August 2023: Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) has today announced the third edition of the SGI Forum. This year’s event will take place on 4 December, during COP28 at Expo City, Dubai, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support of the global climate agenda, and the Kingdom’s commitment to overcoming environmental challenges through measurable action.

Now in its third year, the SGI Forum will build on both 2021’s inaugural event in Riyadh which unveiled Saudi Arabia’s 2060 net zero commitment, and on last year’s forum held in Egypt, in tandem with COP27, revealing major climate action projects, including the launch of a circular carbon economy knowledge hub, and the establishment of a regional center for advancing emissions reduction with UNESCWA.

This year’s SGI Forum will be held during COP28 where it will bring together influential figures, thought leaders, and climate experts from the global climate ecosystem to share their insights and discuss what more can be done to address the climate challenges faced globally. In the year of the global stocktake, the SGI Forum 2023 will be an important platform to help propel the global effort to address climate challenges forward.

SGI was launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in 2021, as a whole-of-society initiative to enhance Saudi Arabia’s environmental action, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and create a greener future for all. The initiative demonstrates Saudi’s dedication to addressing environmental challenges facing the country, including high temperatures, low rainfall, dust storms, and desertification.

Under SGI, the Kingdom will plant 10 billion trees across the country in the coming decades and designate 30% of the country’s land and sea territories as protected areas by 2030. In addition, Saudi Arabia has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030.

These national goals contribute to achieving ambitious regional targets set out under the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI). Also announced in 2021, MGI’s targets focus on eliminating 670 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) and planting 50 billion trees across the region.