The Green Middle East Initiative announced, on August 17, 2026, its participation in the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17), which will be held from August 17 to 28, 2026, according to the official event registry. The participation aims to enhance regional cooperation in combating desertification and restoring degraded lands, as stated in the official announcement.
This announcement comes within the framework of regional efforts to address environmental challenges, as the initiative seeks to support cooperation among member states to exchange expertise and promote sustainability. The initiative affirmed that its participation in the conference stems from its commitment to supporting international efforts in this field and working towards achieving the goals of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
The conference, organized by the Human Capacity Development Program, will witness broad participation from countries and international and regional organizations to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in combating desertification and restoring degraded lands, as well as to exchange expertise and successful experiences in this field. This participation will be an opportunity to highlight regional initiatives, such as the Green Middle East Initiative, and their role in achieving sustainable development.
This participation comes at a time when the region is experiencing increasing environmental challenges that require concerted efforts and enhanced regional and international cooperation. The Green Middle East Initiative represents one of the leading initiatives in this field, aiming to plant billions of trees and restore vast areas of degraded land, thereby contributing to improving quality of life and achieving environmental security.
The conference will provide participants with the opportunity to exchange expertise and learn about the latest technologies and practices in the field of combating desertification, in addition to discussing mechanisms for financing environmental projects and enhancing partnerships between the public and private sectors. It will also serve as a platform to highlight the importance of investing in land restoration and its role in achieving food and water security.
The participation of the Green Middle East Initiative in this international conference reflects its commitment to supporting global efforts to address environmental challenges and enhancing regional cooperation in this field. The participation is expected to yield positive results that contribute to strengthening joint environmental action and achieving sustainable development goals in the region.