Saudi Energy Minister Meets UNEP Executive Director to Advance Regional Climate Cooperation
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, held a meeting on Sunday in Riyadh with Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, to discuss enhanced cooperation on climate action and the implementation of global climate agreements.
The meeting focused on joint efforts to support the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. Both parties reviewed key climate initiatives spearheaded by the Kingdom, including the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, which aim to drive regional environmental progress through reforestation, emission reduction, and energy transition.
Discussions also highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework—an integrated approach to managing emissions while ensuring sustainable energy growth.
On the occasion, the Ministry of Energy and UNEP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Regional Cooperation for Emissions Reduction Initiative. The agreement seeks to support countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in meeting their climate targets through the adoption of clean energy technologies and the development of supportive policy frameworks.
The MoU outlines a broad range of collaborative areas, including:
- Joint policy research and recommendations;
- Strategic partnerships with international organizations;
- Engagement in climate and CCE-related events;
- Exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices;
- Development of regionally aligned climate policy frameworks;
- Facilitation of networking through regional and global climate platforms.
The agreement reflects the shared vision of the Kingdom and UNEP to enhance resource efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and advance a comprehensive, balanced, and sustainable approach to climate action across the region.
This cooperation further underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a leader in climate diplomacy and its ongoing efforts to contribute meaningfully to the global climate agenda.
