Recently, I have discovered that Saudi Arabia has been making efforts to reduce its reliance on oil and focus more on the sustainability of the land. Specifically, companies such as Aramco and the government have been seeking ways to reduce the harm to the environment.  Hence, I found out that Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day 2024, with the cooperation of the United Nations Environment Program.

World Environment Day, according to the United Nations Environment Program, is the United Nation’s assigned day for urging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. It was established and has been held annually since 1973, and it has become a significant program for promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the United Nations has presented. Over 150 countries participate every year, along with the major corporations and non-governmental organizations participate the World Environment Day to spread environmental awareness. 

Additionally, the press stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day with a focus on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.  According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, about 40 percent of the planet’s land is degraded, including Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the number of droughts on lands has significantly increased over the past years, which may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population by 2050. This event will essentially prepare for the host country to spread awareness about their environmental issue, and cooperate with other nations that are struggling with the same problems. This will also eventually create a pathway for the Sustainable Development Goals, which might be achievable as well. 

The event, or the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2 to 13 December 2024. 

Source: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/saudi-arabia-host-world-environment-day-2024-focus-land-restoration