Ministry of Science: Joint Efforts to Preserve Air Quality to Protect the Environment

The Kuwait Society for Earth Sciences has called for concerted efforts and cooperation to preserve air quality, emphasizing it as a shared societal environmental responsibility to protect human health and the environment and ensure environmental sustainability. Dr. Mubarak Al-Hajeri, Chairman of the Society’s Board of Directors, told KUNA on the occasion of the International Day of Clean Air for All, observed annually on September 7, that the United Nations’ choice of this day aims to raise awareness, strengthen partnerships, and reduce air pollution to safeguard health and the environment.

Dr. Al-Hajeri explained that Kuwait is among the most affected countries in the region by dust and sandstorms due to its geographical location and arid desert climate. Dry, dust-laden northern winds frequently sweep across the country, particularly in late spring and summer. He noted that the intensity and frequency of these storms have increased in recent years due to several factors, including record-high temperatures, drying of surface soils, and the decline of natural vegetation cover, making the country vulnerable to dense dust waves that cause severe deterioration in air quality and, at times, complete loss of horizontal visibility.

He pointed out that dust storms have environmental, health, and economic impacts. Fine particulate matter suspended in the air, along with accompanying pollen and pollutants, leads to a noticeable rise in allergies, respiratory crises, and asthma cases, in addition to material losses caused by sand encroachment and accumulation on highways and vital national infrastructure.

He added that these storms act as transboundary and transcontinental pollutants, carrying moving dust masses containing bacteria, fungi, viruses, and pollen, as well as industrial pollutants picked up as the storm passes over cities. This reduces air quality in areas thousands of kilometers away from the original source.

Regarding the reasons for the country’s vulnerability to these storms, he clarified that overgrazing beyond the land’s carrying capacity, removal of vegetation cover, and poor water resource management contribute to turning vast areas into new sources of suspended dust even under light winds.

For his part, Dr. Abdullah Al-Anzi, Vice Chairman and Head of the Strategic Planning Committee at the Society, told KUNA that United Nations Environment Programme initiatives affirm that restoring air quality and addressing the threat of storms require ambitious, nature-based strategies and adaptation measures. Dr. Al-Anzi stated that solutions to this phenomenon include expanding efforts to stabilize local and nearby regional sources of dust storms, and adopting sustainable agricultural practices using native and drought-resistant plants. He added that other solutions involve developing regional monitoring networks and early warning systems to predict storm paths and mitigate their health and economic impacts.

He praised the efforts undertaken by Kuwait and its relevant institutions to preserve air quality and monitor pollutant levels, highlighting the country’s network of air quality monitoring stations and systems that continuously track air components and pollutant concentrations. This contributes to providing the necessary data for assessing air quality and detecting any changes that may affect public health and the environment.

He emphasized that the monitoring, supervision, and continuous follow-up activities carried out by state institutions constitute a fundamental pillar of the country’s environmental protection system, noting the importance of continuing to support these efforts, developing monitoring and early warning networks, and enhancing data exchange.