蹤獲弝け

Partnerships for lasting environmental protection

Partnerships for lasting environmental protection

Partnerships for lasting environmental protection
蹤獲弝けs environmental transformation is still unfolding, but the trajectory is clear. (Saudi Green Initiative photo)
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Environmental challenges know no borders. From rising temperatures to biodiversity loss, these issues demand collective action. In 蹤獲弝け, we are responding to this global call through a model grounded in partnership, collaborating with international organizations, scientific institutions and private innovators to deliver lasting environmental protection.

Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom has embarked on a transformative journey to decarbonize its economy and restore its ecosystems. But what is especially powerful is how this journey is being shaped not only by local resolve but by global cooperation. Across ministries, research centers and giga-projects, 蹤獲弝け is partnering with the world to deliver outcomes that serve both people and planet.

At the heart of 蹤獲弝けs environmental agenda is the Saudi Green Initiative a program aiming to plant 10 billion trees, rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 278 million tonnes per year. SGI has aligned with global partners such as the UN Environment Programme, UNFCCC and the World Economic Forums 1t.org platform, helping to situate the Kingdoms afforestation and restoration efforts within a broader planetary framework.

Agricultural resilience is also receiving international support. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture works closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN on sustainable aquaculture and dryland farming. Through its participation in the Global Soil Partnership, 蹤獲弝け is contributing to global knowledge on soil health in arid regions a vital issue for food security in a warming world.

Progress would be impossible without science. The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has emerged as a world-class partner in marine science, working with multiple entities to inform data-driven conservation. Their work with the Kingdoms smart city, NEOM, for example, includes coral reef restoration and coastal habitat mapping powered by advanced robotics and AI.

On the wildlife front, the National Center for Wildlife is collaborating with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and CITES to safeguard native species. From Arabian oryx reintroductions to hawksbill turtle protection, these programs are helping to rebuild the Kingdoms ecological heritage.

Similarly, the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification has been instrumental in driving desert restoration. Through its leadership role in the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and as the host of COP16, 蹤獲弝け is demonstrating how arid nations can lead in the global fight against land degradation. Its mangrove and seagrass restoration pilots are already informing policy across the region.

In my role as group chief environment and sustainability officer at Red Sea Global, Ive witnessed firsthand the transformative power of collaboration. Our flagship regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA are not only redefining travel but also setting new standards for environmental stewardship.

Sustainability is embedded in every stage of our projects, from development to daily operations. Whether it is through the use of renewable energy, innovative waste management systems or biodiversity conservation, our goal is to reduce our environmental footprint and ensure the long-term health of the region.

Our commitment is demonstrated through continuous environmental monitoring, strong partnerships and bold sustainability targets.

From government ministries to giga-projects, we are inviting the world to join us not just as observers, but as co-creators of a greener future.

Raed Albasseet

We worked with KAUST to conduct the largest marine spatial planning simulation ever undertaken in 蹤獲弝け, allowing us to design with precision and avoid ecological harm.

We are also among the first developers in the world to have all operational resorts LEED-certified, working closely with the US Green Building Council to achieve the highest sustainability standards. Today, we hold the most LEED Platinumcertified hospitality assets of any single developer globally.

Beyond our project sites, our environmental team contributes to the global knowledge base through peer-reviewed research and international conferences, including the International Association for Impact Assessment, where we have shared scientific insights on regenerative development and large-scale conservation planning.

Through our partnership with The Ocean Race, we are advancing ocean literacy among Saudi youth, while positioning AMAALA as host of the Races 2027 Grand Finale.

On the infrastructure side, our multi-utilities agreement with EDF Group and Masdar enables AMAALA to be powered entirely by the sun, eliminating 350,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent each year. And through our collaboration with the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program, we are embedding sustainable fishing practices into the heart of our destinations food systems protecting biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods.

These efforts form only a fraction of 蹤獲弝けs broader journey. But they reflect a truth I believe in deeply: When knowledge, resources and values are shared across borders, we can do more than sustain the environment we can regenerate it.

蹤獲弝けs environmental transformation is still unfolding, but the trajectory is clear. It is a story of shared responsibility. From government ministries to giga-projects, we are inviting the world to join us not just as observers, but as co-creators of a greener future.

If collaboration is the climate solution, 蹤獲弝け is becoming one of its strongest conveners. And as the world looks to scale up its environmental impact, the Kingdom stands ready to collaborate, contribute and lead where it matters most.

* Raed Albasseet is head of environment and sustainability at The Red Sea Development Company.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

Unstoppable Dubois says hes ready to cause chaos and beat Usyk

Unstoppable Dubois says hes ready to cause chaos and beat Usyk
Updated 2 min 34 sec ago

Unstoppable Dubois says hes ready to cause chaos and beat Usyk

Unstoppable Dubois says hes ready to cause chaos and beat Usyk

LONDON: Daniel Dubois said he felt unstoppable and ready to cause chaos when he fights unbeaten Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight world title at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Dubois, 27, is the IBF champion while Usyk, 38, holds the WBA, WBC and WBO belts.
The unification fight is a rematch of one that the Londoner lost by a controversial ninth-round knockout in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2023 after Usyk was given time to recover from what the referee ruled was a low blow.
Dubois can become Britains first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 while Usyk is bidding to be a four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time after relinquishing the IBF title last year.
Ive resurrected myself, resurrected my career and now were on a roll, Dubois told the BBC.
Unstoppable, I feel like I cant be beat right now. Im in the prime of my life and Im going to go through whatever I have to do. Were here now, no more excuses.
Ive got to beat him this time and I am going to win. I am going to cause chaos, knockouts, by any means necessary... I am ready. Man, Im 100 percent ready.
As soon as the bell rings my whole approach is just to seek and destroy, bring chaos and get the victory, seize the moment, he added.
The two fighters were due to hold open workouts at a venue near the stadium on Wednesday before the final face-to-face press conference on Thursday.
Promoter Frank Warren, who represents Dubois, has said Usyk would find the Briton a very different opponent to the one he beat before.
Last time they fought Daniel the boy. This time theyre fighting Daniel the man and thats the difference and hell find that out on Saturday, he told reporters on Tuesday.
He (Usyk) is the best heavyweight of his generation, but everybodys the best until they get beaten and I think its his time now.


US hopeful of quick deescalation after Syria misunderstanding

US hopeful of quick deescalation after Syria misunderstanding
Updated 11 min 9 sec ago

US hopeful of quick deescalation after Syria misunderstanding

US hopeful of quick deescalation after Syria misunderstanding
  • Rubio blamed historic longtime rivalries for the clashes in the majority-Druze city of Sweida
  • State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said that the US was asking Syrian government forces to pull out of the flashpoint area

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Washington hoped within hours to ease tensions in Syria, as he voiced concern over violence that has included Israeli strikes on its war-torn neighbor.

In the next few hours, we hope to see some real progress to end what youve been seeing over the last couple of hours, Rubio told reporters in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump nodded.

Rubio blamed historic longtime rivalries for the clashes in the majority-Druze city of Sweida, which Israel has cited for its latest military intervention.

It led to an unfortunate situation and a misunderstanding, it looks like, between the Israeli side and the Syrian side, Rubio said of the situation which has included Israel bombing the Syrian armys headquarters in Damascus.

Weve been engaged with them all morning long and all night long with both sides and we think were on our way toward a real deescalation and then hopefully get back on track and helping Syria build the country and arriving at a situation in the Middle East that is far more stable, said Rubio, who is also Trumps national security adviser.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said that the United States was asking Syrian government forces to pull out of the flashpoint area.

We are calling on the Syrian government to, in fact, withdraw their military in order to enable all sides to de-escalate and find a path forward, she told reporters, without specifying the exact area.

She declined comment on whether the United States wanted Israel to stop its strikes.

Rubio, asked by a reporter earlier in the day at the State Department what he thought of Israels bombing, said, Were very concerned about it. We want it to stop.

We are very worried about the violence in southern Syria. It is a direct threat to efforts to help build a peaceful and stable Syria, Rubio said in a statement.

We have been and remain in repeated and constant talks with the governments of Syria and Israel on this matter.

Trump has been prioritizing diplomacy with Syrias new leadership.


Pakistans Imran Khan orders party to stay silent on infighting, focus on protests

Pakistans Imran Khan orders party to stay silent on infighting, focus on protests
Updated 32 min 47 sec ago

Pakistans Imran Khan orders party to stay silent on infighting, focus on protests

Pakistans Imran Khan orders party to stay silent on infighting, focus on protests
  • Reports of rifts within Khans party grew after a senior leader spoke about lack of clarity over ongoing nationwide protest drive
  • Khan orders party members to avoid sharing grievances publicly, says time for negotiations with government has passed

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday urged party members to put aside their grievances amid reports of rifts within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and focus on the ongoing protest movement, reiterating that the time for negotiations with the government has passed.

Reports of a rift within the party began to emerge after Ali Amin Gandapur, a close Khan aide and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister, announced on July 13 that a 90-day do-or-die protest drive against the government is underway. The protest call, however, appeared to contradict an earlier call for a nationwide protest posted on Khans official X account, set to culminate on August 5. The day marks the second anniversary of the former prime ministers imprisonment on corruption charges.

Speculation of conflicts within the party further grew after senior PTI leader and Punjab Chief Organizer Aliya Hamza Malik publicly voiced concerns on X about a lack of clarity around the campaign. Malik questioned the origin of the 90-day plan and asked for details on the partys strategy to secure Khans release.

According to a statement shared from his official X account, Khan told his family and lawyers at Adiala Jail where he is imprisoned, that he and others from the PTI are currently undergoing some of the harshest imprisonments.

Therefore, I direct every member of the party to put aside all personal grievances, the statement read. Publicly airing internal matters or individual concerns before the media is entirely unacceptable.

Khan instructed his party members, both juniors and seniors, to avoid sharing internal differences on social media, electronic media, print media or other platforms, urging them to focus exclusively on the protest movement.

If any party official fails to participate in this movement, I will make the final decision about them myself, even from within jail, he warned.

The cricketer-turned-politician directed the PTI leadership to decide about nominations for the partys Senate tickets through mutual consultation.

Khan urged his party supporters to continue protesting against the government.

The time for negotiations has passed, the statement said. What remains now is the time for the nation to rise in protest.

Pakistans Information Minister Attaullah Tarar last week dismissed the partys protest call as a political gimmick.

PTI has lost street power and its credibility, and is heading toward irrelevance, the minister said.

Khan was ousted from the PMs office in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and jailed in August 2023. Since then, the PTI has repeatedly mobilized street protests, including a large march to Islamabad in November 2024, to demand his release and challenge the legitimacy of the February 2024 general election.

The government accuses the PTI of using the protests to incite instability and disrupt efforts at economic recovery.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said earlier this week that peaceful protest was a democratic right of every individual. However, she accused the PTI of abusing that right in the past.

PTI has a history of violence and anarchy, she told reporters. No political party is allowed to attack with weapons as Pakistan is our red line.

Hundreds of PTI supporters were arrested after riots allegedly incited by the party against the military on May 9, 2023. The government also says four soldiers were killed in November protests last year. PTI denies the charges.


Spanish PM highlights immigration benefits

Spanish PM highlights immigration benefits
Updated 37 min 31 sec ago

Spanish PM highlights immigration benefits

Spanish PM highlights immigration benefits
  • Mauritania has however become a key staging post for undocumented migrants
  • Today, the progress and good economic situation of Spain owes a lot to the contribution made by immigration, Sanchez said

NOUAKCHOTT: Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday highlighted the benefits brought by immigrants during a visit to Mauritania where he spoke after anti-immigrant unrest in a Spanish town.

Sanchez, stood alongside Mauritanias President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, told reporters that Spain and other rich countries owe a lot to migrants for their development.

Mauritania has however become a key staging post for undocumented migrants who take a dangerous sea route from West Africa to Europe, with many heading for Spain.

Today, the progress and good economic situation of Spain owes a lot to the contribution made by immigration, to the people who have come to develop their life plans there, Sanchez said.

The Spanish leader called for closer cooperation with countries like Mauritania to guarantee migration that is safe, regular, organized, that mutually benefits our societies.

He spoke as Spanish authorities seek to calm several nights of troubles in the town of Torre Pacheco where migrants have been the target of violence since an attack on a 68-year-old man last week. Spains far-right has seized on the unrest to call for deportations of migrants.

Sanchez has defended the role of migration and in August last year went to three West African nations, including Mauritania, seeking to develop circular migration that brings trained workers that Spain needs for its economy.

Thousands of would-be migrants have died in recent years seeking to make the sea trip from Mauritania and other North African states to Spain and other European Mediterranean countries.

According to the Spanish charity Caminando Fronteras, nearly 10,500 people died at sea in 2024 alone. Some 46,800 African migrants arrived in Spains Canary islands in 2024, according to official figures, though numbers have fallen this year.

Spanish and Mauritanian officials on Wednesday signed four accords on transport and infrastructure, welfare, cybersecurity and national parks, the Spanish government said in a statement.


UN experts demand probe into Belarus deaths in custody

UN experts demand probe into Belarus deaths in custody
Updated 16 July 2025

UN experts demand probe into Belarus deaths in custody

UN experts demand probe into Belarus deaths in custody
  • Several individuals identified by human rights defenders as political prisoners have died in custody or shortly after being released, the UN experts said
  • The dead included people who took part in protests surrounding the 2020 presidential elections

GENEVA: United Nations experts on Wednesday demanded transparent investigations into the deaths of people detained in Belarus for voicing political dissent.

Ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko since 1994, Belarus has outlawed all genuine opposition parties and faces accusations of persecuting dissidents.

Over the past four years, several individuals identified by human rights defenders as political prisoners have died in custody or shortly after being released, the UN experts said in a joint statement.

They said the dead included people who took part in protests surrounding the 2020 presidential elections, which rights groups and critics said Lukashenko had rigged.

The call for investigations came from Nils Muiznieks, special rapporteur on human rights in Belarus, plus the rapporteurs on freedom of expression, protecting rights while countering terrorism, and on extrajudicial executions.

UN special rapporteurs are independent figures appointed by the Human Rights Council to report in their field of expertise. They do not speak for the United Nations itself.

The experts raised the cases of three individuals who died in custody.

It is of the utmost importance to thoroughly investigate the alleged instances of ill-treatment and
neglect that resulted in the deaths, they said, while highlighting the deaths of others designated as political prisoners by human rights defenders.

There are strong reasons to believe that these individuals lost their lives in retaliation for exercising their civil and political rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Presenting an annual report to the Human Rights Council, last month Muiznieks said the rights picture in Belarus was dire and getting worse.

The eastern European country still holds more than 1,000 political prisoners in its jails, according to Belarusian human rights group Viasna.

If these figures are even close to being accurate, Belarus probably has the most political prisoners per capita in the world, said Muiznieks.