Middle East Green Ministerial Meeting in Jeddah with 31 Countries

The Ministerial Council Reviews the Middle East Green Initiative’s Goal to Plant 50 Billion Trees

The second session of the Ministerial Council for the Middle East Green Initiative opened today, Thursday, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with participation from 31 regional countries across Asia and Africa, in addition to the United Kingdom, attending as an observer, according to an official statement.

The session is chaired by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli. The meeting, the statement noted, reaffirms the commitment of member countries to continue implementing the directives and pledges approved during the two summits of the Middle East Green Initiative, which focus on addressing climate change, expanding vegetation cover, and protecting biodiversity in the region.

Middle East Green Initiative 🌱
A comprehensive approach to leading the green era, aiming to rehabilitate 200 million hectares of degraded land in the region. pic.twitter.com/69TWwNKdM9

— Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (@MEWA_KSA) January 28, 2026

The second ministerial council meeting marks the start of a new phase for the initiative, following the completion of its foundational stage and the establishment of the Secretariat in Riyadh. The council is expected to discuss decisions related to transitioning to the implementation phase and launching approved projects.

The Middle East Green Initiative aims to plant 50 billion trees, equivalent to rehabilitating 200 million hectares of degraded land, representing approximately 5% of global vegetation development targets. The initiative also seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 670 million tons, equal to 10% of global contributions, according to figures cited in the statement.

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