Kuwait is keen to adopt a national low carbon strategy until 2050 based on a circular carbon economy to promote the reduction, disposal, reuse, and recycling of greenhouse gases, according to Kuwait?’s ambassador to Belgium, the EU and NATO, Jasem Al-Budaiwi.
Speaking at a webinar hosted by the European Parliament?’s Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula (DARP) in Brussels fRIDAY, he said this strategy will be supported by the enactment of relevant legislation and laws to reduce emission in line with local, regional, and international environmental obligations.
He noted that Kuwait contributes to a package of development projects based on a vision that would avoid an increase in greenhouse gases equivalent to 7.4 percent of its total emission until 2035.
“Kuwait places great importance on diversifying the country?’s energy sources by introducing renewable energies and to ensure the sustainability of energy supplies for future generations,” stressed Al-Budaiwi.
Kuwait also contributes to the preservation of the environment and natural resources in the world through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) which has mitigated the environmental repercussions, he added.
Further, he called for more engagement and cooperation between the EU and GCC on environmental issues especially in the private sector.
The online forum was devoted to the topic of climate change and renewable energies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
On her part, Hannah Neumann, chair of DARP said, the discussions in in this area can be very fruitful for both the EU and GCC.
It is important, she said, that “we increase our parliamentary dimensions with the GCC”, noting that representatives including diplomats experts and parliamentarians from all the six GCC countries were present at the webinar.
“Discussions on climate change is becoming central not only in Europe but also in the Gulf countries,” she said.
Cinzia Bianco, an European expert on Gulf affairs in her keynote presentation said there is a lot going on in the EU on the Gulf, much more than in the past.
Bianco has published a study on Europe?’s climate diplomacy in the Gulf which deals with climate and energy issues.
“When we talk about climate in the Gulf we talk about energy and when we talk about energy we talk about economic and political stability and geopolitics,” she said and referred to a number of ongoing climate projects in the Gulf region.
Silvia Crescimbeni from the Directorate General for climate in the European Commission said cooperation with the GCC countries on climate change is “essential”.
“Climate change is without borders and effects everyone,” she stressed and added the EU wants to bolster relations and engagements with the GCC on climate change.
Source: Kuwait News Agency