Kenya has officially joined the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) to address climate change.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the country’s participation during the inaugural ministerial meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that joining the MGI underscores Kenya’s commitment to tackling climate change through international cooperation.
“Kenya has officially joined the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) during the inaugural ministerial meeting of this multilateral climate change forum in Jeddah,” Duale stated.
The Ministerial Council was led by Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
Launched in 2021, the MGI focuses on environmental action and green investments in Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. With Kenya’s inclusion, the initiative now counts ten other nations as members, including Algeria, Chad, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, The Gambia, Nigeria, Guinea, and the Central African Republic. The United Kingdom attended the meeting as an observer.
This gathering marks a significant step in regional efforts to implement the initiative’s foundational phase and prepare for the establishment of its General Secretariat in Riyadh.
The MGI aims to plant 50 billion trees across the region, contributing to 5 percent of the global reforestation goal, and seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 670 million tons, accounting for 10 percent of global efforts. These actions will improve air quality, prevent soil erosion, provide wildlife habitats, and help mitigate climate change.
The Middle East Green Initiative was first introduced by Saudi Arabia at its inaugural summit in Riyadh in October 2021.
