John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, has urged governments and the private sector to work together on climate action while speaking at the Middle East Green Initiative in Riyadh.

Special Envoy Kerry said today: “I would just say to everybody, that this is not about politics. This is not about strategic balance of power. This is not about ideology.

“This is very simple. This is about science, and it’s about physics and mathematics and those telling us that we must accelerate – that we can still get the job done, but only if we make the key decision and it is implemented over the course of the next few years.”

Speaking about how climate action will create commercial opportunities across global markets, he added: “This is the biggest market opportunity the world has ever known. It’s the biggest the market has ever known.

“It’s the biggest transformation that has ever taken place on this planet, since the industrial revolution, if we do it.

Special Envoy Kerry also praised the launch of the Middle East Green Initiative by HRH the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, adding: “The Middle East Green Initiative is different – it’s a reflection of the urgency of the moment.

“I want to thank Saudi Arabia for its presentation of an updated NDC, and the next zero goal which is a major step forward since Paris, It cannot be under estimated what it means to have one of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers step up at a moment when all countries need to step up.”

He continued: “I acknowledge with humility that our country was away from this for several years. But now President Biden is back, he has had a summit which many of you took part in.

“And as a result of that and the diplomacy of the last months, we’ve had countries that have not necessarily been that consumed by this step up. There is clearly a movement now where people are recognizing the science and what is happening.”

Earlier, HRH the Crown Prince announced a series of regional programs for climate action to an audience of dozens of heads of state at the event. On Saturday, HRH the Crown Prince also revealed that Saudi Arabia is aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2060 through the Carbon Circular Economy approach.

The Middle East Green Initiative called for intensifying coordination and joint action to preserve and develop the importance of the environment and vegetation cover in Africa, in addition to establishing the Green Initiative Foundation as an independent non-profit entity to support the summit and raise the level of coordination.

High-level attendees at the Middle East Green Summit include Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Imran Khan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tunisia Najla Bouden, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis, President of the Libyan Presidential Council H.E. Mohamed Younis Menfi, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan His Royal Highness Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, Amir of the State of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Finance.