Saudi Arabia stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation in confronting environmental challenges. Addressing the 26th session of ministers of environment of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Mansour Al-Mushaiti also underlined the need to enhance efforts to rehabilitate degraded lands, as well as to increase the ability of communities and ecosystems to withstand drought, in addition to preserving natural resources, biodiversity, and achieving their sustainability. Al-Mushaiti explained that Saudi Arabia called on the GCC countries during the meeting to complete the ratification of the Middle East Green Initiative Charter, and to include national targets for planting trees and rehabilitating lands in the GCC countries within the initiative’s targets. He emphasized the need to enhance the role of national development funds in the GCC countries to support vegetation development projects in the region, while noting the importance of GCC countries continuing to provide full support to Middle East Green Initiative. Al-Mushaiti said that the outcomes of the Council"s meetings contributed to advancing the environmental work process to achieve the sustainable development goals in the region, through discussing environmental protection, adapting to the phenomenon of climate change and mitigating its effects. Al-Mushaiti also expressed hope that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the COP16 conference in Riyadh in December this year will contribute to bringing about a qualitative shift in international action to reduce land degradation and the effects of drought. "Holding this global event in Saudi Arabia would enhance the pioneering role played by the Kingdom and the GCC countries in supporting and assisting international efforts to bridge the large gap in confronting the phenomenon of drought and its negative effects," he said while calling for the importance of the effective participation of all GCC countries, the states parties to the agreement, international and regional organizations, along with the private sector and civil society, in the conference activities. Al-Mushaiti highlighted Saudi Arabia"s interest in environmental issues, as well as in protecting and developing them, through preserving natural resources and biodiversity and reducing land degradation. "This is in addition to working to develop the vegetation cover, as well as to achieve environmental sustainability and improve the quality of life," he added.