Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia, during a meeting of the Technical Committee for the Environment of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment, has called on countries and regional and international organizations to participate effectively in the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which the Kingdom will host in December.

The call came during the launch of 25th meeting of the Technical Committee in Jeddah, to prepare for the 60th meeting of the Executive Office of Arab Environment Ministers, which will be held next Wednesday, in addition to the 35th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs, which will be held next Thursday.

The Committee discussed a number of topics on its agenda, including Arab position on the agreements concerned with combating desertification and biodiversity, other related agreements, and Arab cooperation with the G20 global initiative to reduce land degradation and preserve wild habitats.

In addition to the preparations for the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), which will be held in Riyadh.

The specialized committee will choose the Arab Environment Capital based on the recommendations of the jury of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs Award, in addition to discussing the challenges and proposed solutions to the environmental situation in some Arab countries that suffer from environmental crises and disasters.