UN Habitat Kuwait and the Gulf, and the Turkish Embassy, launch greening works at the Kuwait-Turkey Friendship Park

Kuwait City, Aug 13 (KUNA) -- The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for Kuwait and the Gulf States, in partnership with the Turkish Embassy in Kuwait, launched greening initiatives at the Kuwait-Turkey Friendship Park by planting its first tree, a move symbolizing the deep ties between the two countries and reinforcing international cooperation and community engagement in addressing climate change impacts and achieving urban sustainability.

In a joint press statement marking the occasion, both sides said the initiative aims to green open public spaces, promote a culture of volunteering, and involve the community in improving the urban environment, alongside encouraging the reuse of resources and recycled materials to help reduce waste and consolidate the principles of the circular economy.

They noted that addressing climate change impacts requires the integration of international, national, and community efforts, emphasizing the crucial role of cities and local communities in climate action and the participation of residents and volunteers, especially youth, in greening activities to strengthen shared responsibility toward the environment and public spaces.

They pointed out that the initiative falls within the efforts of the UN-Habitat program to support sustainable urban development and enhance inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements, including the development of open and green public spaces in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

They also affirmed that planting the first tree marks the commencement of greening works at the Kuwait-Turkey Friendship Park, expressing their hope that the park will become a model of international cooperation, voluntary action, and community participation, and a sustainable symbol of friendship between the Kuwaiti and Turkish peoples.

For her part, Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait Tuba Nur Sonmaz said that planting the first tree carries a meaning that transcends its environmental significance, representing a living symbol of the friendship and established relations between Kuwait and Turkey, and embodying the capacity of states and peoples to translate cooperation into practical initiatives with sustainable impacts for future generations.

Sonmaz added that Turkey attaches great importance to environmental protection and the responsible use of resources, highlighting its efforts under the “Zero Waste” initiative, which aims to reduce waste generation, encourage reuse and recycling, and establish sustainability as a community practice.

She noted Turkey’s hosting of the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) at the Expo Center in Antalya from November 9 to 20 next year, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and trust-building, and the transition from climate commitments to actual implementation.

She affirmed that climate challenges inherently transcend national borders, making international cooperation and partnerships among governments, international organizations, and local communities essential elements for achieving tangible and sustainable results in addressing climate change impacts.

For her part, Dr. Amira Al-Hasan, Head of the UN-Habitat Kuwait and Gulf States Mission, said that greening public spaces represents an investment in quality of life and enhancing the capacity of cities and communities to adapt to environmental and climate challenges, and is not merely a process of planting trees.

Al-Hasan stressed the importance of community participation and voluntary action in achieving urban sustainability, explaining that involving residents, youth, and volunteers in greening public spaces makes them partners in protecting and maintaining these areas, and strengthens the community’s connection to its urban environment.

She noted that the project seeks to utilize and reuse recycled resources and materials whenever possible, thereby linking urban greening with concepts of the circular economy and resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable environmental practices. (End) S.L.M. / A.M.H.