Jeddah, Saudi Arabia(Mogadishu24)-Djibouti’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Mohamed Abdoulkader Moussa Helem, participated in the inaugural session of the Council of Ministers of the founding nations of the Green Middle East Initiative (GMEI), held from October 15-16, 2024, in Jeddah.

Accompanied by technical advisor Aden Hassan Elmi and Djibouti’s Consul in Jeddah, Miad Ali Moussa, Minister Helem highlighted Djibouti’s support for the initiative aimed at combating climate change and environmental degradation in the region.

Launched in 2021 by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the GMEI seeks to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East, contributing 5% to the global reforestation target.

The initiative also aims to reduce carbon emissions by 670 million tons, representing 10% of global contributions, to improve air quality, combat soil erosion, restore wildlife habitats, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

During the session, Minister Helem reaffirmed Djibouti’s dedication to supporting the ambitious goals of the initiative. He emphasized that Djibouti faces increasing challenges from land degradation and unpredictable climate patterns, stressing the urgency of preserving the country’s arid and semi-arid landscapes.

Djibouti’s participation, he noted, is driven by the need to restore biodiversity, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainable development for local communities.

The Council of Ministers approved the organizational structure of the GMEI Secretariat, internal policies, and appointed its treasurer, setting the stage for the implementation phase of the initiative. The ministerial declaration emphasized regional cooperation to address land degradation, desertification, and biodiversity loss, while also welcoming 11 new countries to the initiative and encouraging others to join.

Minister Helem highlighted that regional cooperation is vital for tackling environmental issues, noting that efforts to increase vegetation cover and protect ecosystems will directly impact food and water security, biodiversity, and climate change adaptation across the region.

The GMEI represents a crucial step toward improving regional governance to combat desertification, drought, and climate change. The declaration called for stronger international mobilization, with a focus on the private sector, financial institutions, and civil society, to address global challenges related to land degradation and sustainability.

Djibouti reaffirmed its commitment to setting ambitious national targets for land rehabilitation and vegetation development, integrating these goals into the broader regional framework of the Green Middle East Initiative.