The Saudi Green Initiative Forum in Riyadh has brought together world leaders, public officials, businessmen and climate activists to chalk out the regional roadmap for tackling the disastrous effects of global climate change. Its highlight is the official launch of the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative, unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March.
The forum is also a prelude to the 26th UN Climate Chance Conference, or COP26, to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 12 in Glasgow, which is expected to renew the global commitment to realize the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the global temperature rise by 2 C — ideally 1.5 C — by reducing carbon emissions down to zero by 2050.
In August, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying. Its destructive potential was visible in this year’s record-breaking summer temperatures, flash flooding across China, central Europe and the US and forest fires on almost every continent.
Fortunately, 2021 has also turned out to be a promising year, with the US re-joining the Paris Agreement and the rest of the world expressing greater resolve on climate action at various world forums, including the US Earth Day virtual summit in April and the G20 Meeting on Environment, Climate and Energy held in July in Naples.