Saudi Green Initiative Forum: as it happened in Riyadh
Over 300 delegates have convened in Riyadh for the inaugural Saudi Green Initiative Forum
Saudi Arabia is hosting the inaugural Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum in the capital Riyadh on 23 October, and the Youth Green Summit on 24 October.
Day one of the event showcases the climate pledges Saudi Arabia has made as part of SGI, a whole of government initiative designed to create lasting changes that will protect the environment and improve the lives of future generations.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Forum by doubling the country’s targets for reducing carbon emissions, and delegates heard from ministers and climate leaders from around the world.
On day two, delegates are hearing from younger voices at the ancillary event, Youth Green Summit, which explores how young people around the world can engage in climate action.
The Independent is reporting live from Riyadh – follow our live blog for the latest and read breakout stories and highlights here.
After setting out how Saudi Arabia plans to meet its climate goals on day one of the SGI Forum, the country’s minister of energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, has returned to Tuwaiq Palace for the YGS.
In today’s panel, he is discussing how young people’s voices can be amplified in the climate sphere as well as how their input can be included in the decision process.
During an exclusive interview with Independent TV, the minister said that Saudi Arabia has ambitions to become “pioneers” in clean energy.
Watch the interview here:
As part of the panel, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman gave his time generously to answer questions directly from the audience, many of whom are students and graduates.
The prince explained how he often discussed climate issues with his own children and that he wanted to build a very inclusive dialogue around the protection of the environment.
The minister, whose department oversees resource production in the country, including oil, gas, and minerals, said the world needs cleaner oil and cleaner gas, but it also needed renewable energy, such as those generated from solar panels and wind turbines.
He added that Saudi Arabia will be the “most competitive” country in the climate sphere.
The Youth Green Summit is very much about hearing from younger voices, and especially female voices, whether it’s from those in the audience or those on stage.
Discussions have now turned to how to become a change maker in the climate space.
On stage are three such change makers: Nisreen Elsaim, chair of Sudan Youth Organization on Climate Change; Julian Olivier, CEO of sustainable development charity Raleigh International; and Lojain Alkhursani, senior strategy and sustainability manager at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Sudan’s Nisreen Elsaim started her climate activism when she was just 16.
Now, in addition to being the chair of Sudan Youth Organization on Climate Change, she’s also the chair of UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, representing the African continent.
She told delegates that engaging in climate action is “not only an option but a moral obligation” because she has seen first hand how heavily the effects of climate change have impacted the region and Sudan.
Technology will play an important role in climate action in the future.
It could be used, for example, to help us monitor and understand the environmental challenges ahead, and even develop models to predict the future.
But it could also be used to engage the public, such as through social media
Exploring ways that we can use technology in climate action in the next panel are Tariq Al-Olaimy, co-founder and managing director of Bahrainian consultancy firm 3BL Associates; Khizr Imran Tajammul, founder and CEO of Canadian start-up Jan Paak Entreprises; and Mohammed Alkhalid, founder and CEO of Saudi Arabia’s NABATIK, who closed the SGI Forum the day before.
After a morning of panels, delegates are now split into groups where they can explore three initiatives in more detail: the SGI pledge to plant 10 billion trees in Saudi Arabia; the protection, enhancement and management of marine areas; and emission reduction and circular carbon economy.
All three are among the initiatives that will help Saudi Arabia achieve the targets it set as part of SGI.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman set out Saudi Arabia’s climate pledges on day one of the event.
Read the full story here:
Saudi Arabia doubles its carbon emissions reduction target for 2030
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman commits his Kingdom to a series of ambitious climate goals at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum
In a panel on how to achieve the right balance between environmental, economic, and social sustainability, Dr Nayef Almusehel, Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister for policies and strategic planning, reiterated the Kingdom’s pledge to provide 50 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, but noted that the energy transition will look different across the world.
He said: “The word ‘transition’ does not necessarily reflect a single solution. It is rooted in a framework that respects the different capabilities of different global economies and offers multiple solutions to reach these targets.”
Dr Almusehel added: “The problem at hand requires an all-over approach to achieve our targets and ensure we will not leave anyone behind.”
Read the full story here:
Transition to renewable energy must be fair to all
We must deliver green energy while keeping it accessible and affordable to all, said leaders at the Saudi Green Initiative in Riyadh
Many of the sessions at the Youth Green Summit are very interactive, with audience members able to ask panellists questions.
There are also workshops where they can engage in discussions with each other.
“Youth don’t need to be taught how to use technology. They need to be empowered to change it.”
That’s the message from Dr Hamad Hani Al-Draye, curator of the Riyadh Hub, a branch of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community.
Dr Al-Draye was speaking in a panel this morning about using tech to help in climate action.
Read the full story here:
Youth empowerment is first step to solving the climate crisis
Next-generation entrepreneurs must use innovation to understand environmental challenges and tackle them, say speakers on the second day of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum
In an exclusive interview with Independent TV, Princess Noura Bint Turki Al Saud said that successful climate strategy is all about being “transparent and objective”.
The princess is the co-founder of the Aeon Collective, a sustainable development advisory firm based in Riyadh, and has been engaged in panels throughout the SGI Forum.
Watch the full interview here: