Bahrain keen to boost GCC environment cooperation

Agencies | Muscat          

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is committed to strengthening cooperation and unifying GCC countries’ stances at various international environment gatherings.

This was affirmed by Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Oil and Environment Minister, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, as he participated in the 25th meeting of the ministers responsible for climate affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, held in Muscat, Oman yesterday.

Omani Minister of Energy and Minerals, Salim bin Said Al Aufi, chaired the meeting, in the presence of GCC Secretary-General, Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, and senior environment and climate affairs officials.

Dr. Bin Daina hailed the important and constructive decisions taken by GCC ministers responsible for environment affairs during their previous meetings, contributing to enhancing the GCC environment action towards achieving sustainable development goals in the region.

He extended sincere thanks and appreciation to GCC leaders for their constant support for strengthening joint GCC action. The Minister commended the ongoing GCC efforts to preserve the environment and address climate change, paying tribute to the GCC Secretariat-General’s committees and staff for constant cooperation and keenness to push joint GCC action forward.

The participants discussed a number of issues pertaining to environment and climate affairs, including the GCC strategic plan for the environment, the Middle East Green Initiative, the role of the GCC countries in the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP28), the GCC Environment e-Portal, and developments in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme - West Asia Office (UNEP/ROWA).

The meeting also focused on GCC countries’ role in the upcoming agreement to prevent plastic pollution, the latest developments in the commitments of the GCC countries regarding the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, and the efforts and initiatives of the GCC countries towards the agreement to preserve wildlife and their natural habitats.