Bahrain committed to fighting climate change

TDT | Manama                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

Staff Reporter

Countries around the world are experiencing a change in climate, and the systematic warming of the planet is directly contributing to rising sea levels.

Bahrain is vulnerable, like many other countries, to rising sea levels due to coastal erosion, soil contamination, and other environmental issues, experts report.

Many would believe that having more water around Bahrain would be a positive concept, considering that the Kingdom is covered with deserts; however, global warming and rising sea levels could potentially devastate the country and result in the removal of a massive part of land.

Climate change affects many countries globally, and impacts economies and lives. Patterns within weather and seas are changing, causing for extremity. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that 1.5 m of sea level rise would submerge 27 per cent of the Kingdoms land area.

If this were to happen, it would threaten urban, industrial, recreational, and critical infrastructures. Based on the report, global mean sea level is predicted to rise by 2 m by the end of this century. It would take a global effort to stop the growth of climate change, but the Kingdom is committed to protecting the environment and preserving natural recourses, whilst also aiming for ambitious goals within its national development agenda.

Since 2007, the Joint National Committee on Climate Change has been mandated to oversee all climate issues in the country, and over the years have made significant progress to uphold the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national reporting and communication climate change obligations to the United Nations (UN).

In addition, the Joint National Committee on Climate Change has initiated increases in ecosystem protection to assist in climate protection. Bahrain is continuously working to study the sea level rise by assessing flood risks, assessing coastal flood hazards, and assessing the impact of the national infrastructure.

The Kingdom has taken active measures to help communicate the important efforts towards reducing climate change. These measures consist of beginning coastal monitoring programmes strengthening the urban planning considerations and laws to combat climate change, integrating enhanced environmental safeguards, and raising policymakers and public awareness regarding the impacts of rising sea levels.