Riyadh, Oct. 23, 2021, SPA -- His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Green Saudi Arabia, launched the inaugural edition of the annual forum of the Saudi Green Initiative in Riyadh, concerned with launching new environmental initiatives for the Kingdom and monitoring the impact of the previously-announced initiatives, in order to achieve the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative. In a key opening speech at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince announced the launch of the first package of qualitative initiatives in the Kingdom, to set a roadmap for protecting the environment and confronting climate change, designed to contribute to achieving the ambitious goals of the Saudi Green Initiative. His Royal Highness pointed out that the Kingdom has launched initiatives in the energy sector designed to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by 2030, thus voluntarily more than doubling the targeted emissions reduction. His Royal Highness confirmed the start of the first phase of afforestation initiatives by planting more than 450 million trees, in addition to rehabilitating eight million hectares of degraded lands, and allocating new protected areas, bringing the total protected areas in the Kingdom to more than 20% of its total area. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince stressed his determination to transform Riyadh into one of the most sustainable cities in the world. His Royal Highness announced the Kingdom's intention to join the Global Oceans Alliance, the Alliance to Eliminate Plastic Wastes in Oceans and Beaches, the Sports for Climate Action Agreement, in addition to establishing a global center for sustainable tourism, and a non-profit foundation to explore the seas and oceans. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince further announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aims to reach Net Zero in the year 2060 through the Carbon Circular Economy approach, in line with its development plans and enabling its economic diversification, in accordance with the Dynamic Baseline, while preserving and reinforcing the Kingdom’s leading role in the security and stability of global energy markets, amid the availability and maturity of the required technologies to manage and reduce emissions. His Royal Highness further added that this first package of initiatives represents investments worth more than 700 billion Saudi Riyals, which contributes to developing the green economy, creating quality job opportunities and providing significant investment opportunities for the private sector in accordance with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. -- SPA 13:36 LOCAL TIME 10:36 GMT 0009 www.spa.gov.sa/w1639225