Why Was the Middle East Green Initiative Launched?

Land degradation is one of the most urgent environmental and development challenges of the twenty-first century. It undermines food security, accelerates biodiversity loss, increases exposure to climate change impacts, and places pressure on communities, livelihoods and economies.

Across the Initiative's geographic scope, desertification, water scarcity, vegetation loss and ecosystem stress are interconnected challenges whose effects cross borders and affect shared development priorities. The Initiative was launched to provide a regional response to this shared challenge, enabling countries and partners to align priorities, mobilize resources, exchange expertise and accelerate implementation through a unified platform.