KUWAIT: Acting Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Nouf Behbehani has reaffirmed the depth of environmental cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, particularly in the areas of environment and emergency management, praising joint efforts to advance sustainability and protect the region's ecosystems. Behbehani made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the GCC General Secretariat headed by Brig Gen Dr Rashid Al-Marri, Director of the GCC Emergency Management Center, on an official visit to the EPA.
She described the visit as an important milestone in strengthening Gulf joint action and exchanging expertise in environmental emergency management, noting that such cooperation supports the GCC's strategic objectives in sustainability, environmental protection, and regional security. For his part, Brig Gen Dr Al-Marri stressed the importance of the meeting in enhancing cooperation and unifying efforts to implement sustainable solutions while raising environmental awareness across the Gulf. He said discussions touched on key environmental and health challenges, along with security and energy issues.
He added that the GCC Emergency Center gives priority to 13 categories of risks related to the environment, public health, and energy, and is working on practical mechanisms to address them through an integrated strategy designed to safeguard natural resources and mitigate negative impacts. Al-Marri emphasized the need to continue coordination among GCC authorities to promote sustainable environmental development and ensure the safety and well-being of Gulf societies.
Meanwhile in Geneva, Kuwait's Permanent Delegation to the United Nations stressed Thursday that climate change represents a global challenge requiring collective international action based on the principle of shared responsibilities and differentiated obligations. The delegation highlighted the need to account for the economic conditions and national circumstances of developing countries, which face compounded burdens from desertification, water scarcity, and threats to food security.
Delivering Kuwait's statement before the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Third Secretary Abdulrahman Al-Hashem said Kuwait has launched a national roadmap to reduce emissions by 2050, setting a target of producing 15 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. He noted that several renewable energy projects are underway, alongside initiatives to enhance energy efficiency in order to balance climate commitments with development requirements. Al-Hashem stressed that a just climate transition depends on providing concessional financing, technology transfer, and capacity building to enable developing nations to meet their obligations without undermining their right to development and sovereignty over their natural resources. -- KUNA