On February 05, 2018, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, chaired the 13th meeting of the High Committee for Environment Protection in Riyadh.
During the meeting, HRH welcomed the Committee members and urged them to continue their great efforts to carry out their duties set out in the “Execution Plan for Environment Protection in Riyadh City”.
According to HE Engr. Ibrahim Al-Sultan, member of the High Commission for Development of Arriyadh and President of Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), the gathering was briefed on the report of air quality in the city of Riyadh, which covers a two-year period from 1436H to 1438H.
During this period, more than 21 million readings were recorded using 32 monitoring stations installed across the city, with an accuracy rate of 82%. The analysis of the readings revealed that:
The committee also contacted the World Health Organization to rectify the inaccurate information, based on which it has classified the city of Riyadh within the world’s most polluted cities by suspended particulates (PM2.5).
Also, HE Engr. Ibrahim Al-Sultan referred that the Yamama Cement Company has completed 69% of the new cement plant, 75 kilometers outside Riyadh, to which it will relocate its current factory.
During the meeting, a number of committee members provided a summary of their metropolitan environmental efforts as follows:
Adoption of the Riyadh Region Revegetation Program’s outputs
The meeting also adopted the Riyadh Region Revegetation Program’s outputs and executive program, which will guide, direct and orchestrate all metropolitan vegetation-related works and projects.
Regulations for demolition, construction and drilling wastes
The meeting also adopted the updated regulations for the management of demolition, construction and drilling wastes. The new regulations set out the functions and responsibilities of the concerned metropolitan stakeholders, and detail the environmental regulations, terms and specifications for recycling, sorting and disposal of such wastes.
Riyadh Governor Environmental Excellence Program
The meeting also approved the “Riyadh Governor Environmental Excellence Program” as a component of the “Execution Plan for Environment Protection in Riyadh City.” The new program has three branches: