Ambassador Hadi Shalabi Participates in the Second Session of the Ministerial Council for the Green Middle East Initiative

SadaNews - The Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Ambassador Hadi Shalabi, participated in the second session of the Ministerial Council for the Green Middle East Initiative, which was held on January 29, 2026, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the participation of 31 regional countries from Asia and Africa, in addition to the United Kingdom as an observer.  

The Palestinian delegation in this meeting included Chief Advisor Naseem Zaanin and Second Secretary Aithar Omari.
The Green Middle East Initiative aims to enhance regional cooperation in addressing the impacts of climate change through the implementation of strategic projects and plans aimed at planting 50 billion trees and rehabilitating 200 million hectares of degraded land in the region's countries, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving environmental quality, and promoting biodiversity. The initiative also works to support sustainable development and provide economic and social opportunities for local communities. 

This ministerial meeting is an important step in the initiative’s journey toward transitioning from the foundational phase to the executive phase of its green environmental projects by exchanging experiences and lessons learned and coordinating efforts among the participating countries to elevate the level of climate action in the region. 

The participation of the Palestinian delegation in this meeting reaffirms Palestine's commitment to the Arab and international positions supporting regional efforts to combat climate change and achieve environmental sustainability goals, considering these issues as strategically important in protecting natural resources and enhancing sustainable development.