RIYADH: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) President Dr. Munir El Desouki emphasized the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in successfully integrating nature into urban development and creating smarter, greener, and more sustainable cities. Such an approach involves collaboration among government, private sector, civil society, non-profit organizations, financiers, and academia. According to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. El Desouki, during his participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) roundtable session "From Sand to Soil: Nature-Positive Approaches to Urban Desertification" within COP16, highlighted how cross-sector collaboration accelerates the transition to green cities based on sustainability and innovation while expediting the integration of sustainable environmental solutions. The KACST president explained that emerging technologies and smart city solutions are crucial in achieving sustainability goals, such as monitoring tree growth via satellites and using the internet o f things (IoT) to monitor air and water quality. Dr. El Desouki highlighted that challenges associated with the regulatory environment and access to finance could hinder environmental sustainability projects. He added the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been successful in overcoming such challenges by adopting flexible policies and legislative reforms, such as establishing the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) and implementing flexible financing models that enhance the participation of the private sector and start-ups in environmental sustainability projects.
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