By The European Times | Created at 2026-08-05 09:35:28 | Updated at 2026-08-06 00:26:38
18 hours ago
Saudi Arabia, a large part of which is covered in desert, has announced impressive results from a large-scale environmental program.
In less than five years, the country has restored more than 1 million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees, according to Tech. The program began in 2021, and by 2024, the area of restored land was approximately 250,000 hectares, but by the beginning of this year this figure had already exceeded 1 million hectares.
The UN has assessed the project as one of the largest examples of ecosystem restoration in a dry climate. Experts believe that Saudi Arabia’s experience has shown that even countries with severe water shortages can successfully combat land degradation with the right approach.
However, the country’s authorities do not plan to rest on their laurels. By 2030, Saudi Arabia plans to restore 2.5 million hectares of land, and in the long term – 40 million hectares, and plant 10 billion trees.
To implement such an ambitious project, the country is using modern water-saving technologies. In particular, rainwater harvesting systems are being created, dams are being built, and treated wastewater is being used instead of fresh water to irrigate some green areas.
Greening is not limited to desert areas. Millions of trees are being planted along highways, pastures are being restored, and new parks and green spaces are being created in major cities, including Riyadh.
It is noted that the environmental program is part of a larger strategy. By 2030, Saudi Arabia plans to receive 50% of its electricity from renewable sources and significantly expand the area of protected natural areas.
Meanwhile, the Colombian city of Medellín has become one of the best-known examples of how nature can help combat heat and climate change. As part of the Green Corridors program, approximately 880,000 trees and more than 2.5 million shrubs and other plants have been planted along roads, parks, rivers and public spaces.
The project began in 2016. Its goal is to reduce the urban “heat island” effect caused by dense construction, excessive asphalt and a decrease in green spaces. These factors have led to overheating of the streets and a deterioration in the quality of life of residents.
Trees cool the air in two ways: they create shade, protecting roads and buildings from direct sunlight, and they also evaporate moisture through their leaves, thus naturally lowering the temperature of the surrounding air. Studies show that thanks to the greening, the average temperature in the city has dropped by about 2°C, and in the most shaded areas, the air has become cooler by up to 5°C.
The new green spaces have improved air quality, reduced noise levels, created habitats for birds and pollinators, and made walking and cycling more comfortable.
Today, Medellín’s program is considered one of the best examples of urban adaptation to climate change. It is studied by experts around the world, as large-scale greening can make cities not only more beautiful, but also significantly more comfortable to live in as temperatures rise.
While Colombia successfully fights heat and climate change, Europe is suffering from Saharan dust. Desert dust concentrations across Europe have increased by 10–25% in recent years, with the Canary Islands and southern Spain suffering the most. Scientists warn that the problem will only get worse as the climate warms further.
Over the past decade, concentrations of dust from the Sahara Desert in Europe have increased by 10–25%, and in the UK, air pollution linked to such transport has increased by almost 50%. This is according to a new study titled “Growing Saharan dust air pollution in Europe under the influence of climate change”, published in the journal Nature.
Illustrative photo: pexels-saydoublea-30124607
