Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) has announced that the 2024 SGI Forum will take place on December 3-4, under the theme “Action is in our nature.”

This year’s SGI Forum will coincide with the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which will be held in Riyadh from December 2-13.

The conference will be the largest-ever UNCCD event, marking the first time it is hosted in the Middle East, and is the largest multilateral conference ever held in Saudi Arabia.

At the SGI Forum, hundreds of policymakers, business leaders, and experts from around the world will gather at the dedicated SGI Pavilion within the UNCCD COP16 Green Zone.

The pavilion will host dozens of tailored sessions exploring best practices, innovations, and progress towards SGI targets, aiming to deepen collaboration and scale up climate action for a greener future.

Since its inception, SGI has made significant strides, including the installation of over 4 GW of renewable energy capacity, the planting of more than 95 million trees and shrubs, and the rewilding of over 1,660 endangered animals across the Kingdom.

Throughout COP16, the SGI Pavilion will be open to the public, offering an interactive journey through Saudi Arabia’s climate and environmental efforts.

The 4,000 m² SGI Gallery will feature a multimedia showcase and a broad range of experts who will provide insights into more than 80 initiatives launched under the SGI framework.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to engage with experts during the daily SGI Talks, an expert-led speaker series that was introduced in 2023.

Launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021, the Saudi Green Initiative aims to drive climate action at all levels of society and fulfill Saudi Arabia’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.