Kuwait, Mar. 29, 2021, SPA - Secretary General of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) Ali bin Sabt praised the “Saudi Green” and the “Green Middle East” initiatives, recently unveiled by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Bin Sabt said in a statement: “The two initiatives will outline the Kingdom’s and the region’s nature preservation and protection approach with a well-defined and ambitious roadmap that will have strong contributions to achieving international relevant objectives.” Also he noted that the two initiatives reflect the Kingdom’s keenness on leading the green era and underline Saudi Arabia's pioneering role in international climate change-combating efforts, and will contribute to enhancing its contributions as a major oil producer in achieving stability in international energy markets in general, and in oil and gas market in particular. Bin Sabt added that the "Saudi Green" and the “Green Middle East" initiatives come within the Kingdom's continuing efforts to protect the planet. In this regard, he cited the presidency of the G20 last year, which resulted in the launch of the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) approach, the establishment of the G20 Working Group on Carbon-Neutral Hydrocarbons, the launch of the International Coral Reef Protection Initiative and the Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats. He also underlined the contributions of the “Green Middle East Initiative” to enhancing the Kingdom's endeavor to plant an additional 40 billion trees in the Middle East in cooperation with brotherly regional countries, explaining that addressing climate change impact and the increasing greenhouse gas emissions requires constant international cooperation and coordination. The two initiatives will also have significant contributions to enhancing the international efforts to combat climate change, strengthening competitiveness and creating millions of job opportunities, the Secretary General said, stressing the importance of the international organizations' support of the two initiatives and the Saudi Kingdom's environment protection programs and efforts. --SPA 19:58 LOCAL TIME 16:58 GMT 0034 www.spa.gov.sa/w1532835