Minister of Development and Sustainability: Kuwait Proceeds to Consolidate Sustainability and Enhance Joint Arab Environmental Action
Cairo, October 1 (KUNA) – State Minister for Development and Sustainability, Dr. Reem Al-Faleh, affirmed that Kuwait is advancing the entrenchment of sustainability within an integrated national framework, while simultaneously supporting the transition of joint Arab environmental action from a phase of coordination and vision-sharing to the implementation of measurable programs and initiatives that yield tangible impacts across Arab countries.
This statement was made in Kuwait’s address today, Thursday, at the 37th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs, held at the headquarters of the Arab League Secretariat in Cairo. The session is attended by ministers and senior officials concerned with environmental affairs from Arab countries.
Dr. Al-Faleh stated that, in accordance with the high directives of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may God protect him), and His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (may God protect him), Kuwait continues to support the trajectory of joint Arab action and expand the scope of cooperation and integration in environmental protection, combating climate change, and achieving sustainable development goals.
She added that the environment is no longer a separate sectoral issue but has become an integral part of the national and regional security system, serving as a cornerstone for economic and social development, including the protection of human health, the conservation of natural resources, and the assurance of the rights of future generations.
Dr. Al-Faleh outlined the key steps taken by Kuwait during 2026, noting the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Development and Sustainability, which oversees relevant authorities in the fields of environment, agriculture, and food security. This move enhances institutional integration and solidifies the concept of sustainability as a comprehensive national path.
She clarified that the Council of Ministers has approved the first unified government framework for environmental sustainability reports, which annually measures the performance of government entities through 14 national indicators. The results are compiled into a national environmental performance report, thereby enhancing transparency and governance and linking environmental policies and programs to measurable and monitorable indicators.
Regarding climate change, Dr. Al-Faleh stated that Kuwait is implementing its National Roadmap for Low-Carbon Development 2060, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality in the oil and gas sector by 2050, with the goal of reaching carbon neutrality in the rest of the country’s sectors by 2060. She added that Kuwait has trained its first cohort of national negotiators specialized in climate change, comprising approximately 100 negotiators from various scientific and legal disciplines, alongside continuing partnerships with the private sector to expand renewable energy and energy storage projects.
She pointed out that enhancing national preparedness for environmental risks represents a primary pathway within the sustainability system. Kuwait has developed a risk management system based on data, monitoring, and early warning, and has prepared a National Register of Environmental Risks.
On the Arab level, Dr. Al-Faleh called for the development of a joint environmental action model to address challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, land degradation, loss of biodiversity, extreme weather phenomena, and pollution. She emphasized that the scale of current challenges necessitates a shift from exchanging views and coordination to clear executive programs measured by their results and impact.
She stressed the necessity of strengthening Arab solidarity and coordination in regional and international forums to reflect the priorities, developmental needs, and specificities of the Arab region, while supporting the right of Arab states to achieve a just and balanced transition toward more sustainable economies, taking into account differences in national conditions, capacities, and resources.
She highlighted the importance of directing Arab cooperation toward sectors with direct impact, including the green and circular economies, combating desertification, protecting biodiversity and the marine environment, improving air quality, and integrated waste management, alongside leveraging scientific research, modern technologies, and nature-based solutions.
She called for expanding the participation of youth, women, civil society organizations, and the private sector in the environmental action system and building partnerships capable of transforming sustainable development goals into tangible projects and results.
Dr. Al-Faleh stated that the true benchmark for the success of joint Arab environmental action lies in “our ability to transform recommendations into policies, policies into programs, and programs into real impact that the Arab citizen feels, preserving our nations’ resources and capabilities and enhancing their resilience and adaptability.”
She expressed Kuwait’s hope that the 37th session will yield practical and executable decisions that enhance the preparedness of Arab countries for environmental risks and emergencies and support the sustainable management of natural resources. She emphasized the importance of developing mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the Council’s decisions and measure their outcomes.
Dr. Al-Faleh congratulated the Republic of Yemen on assuming the presidency of the current session and expressed appreciation to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for its efforts during the previous presidency, as well as to the Arab League Secretariat for its role in supporting the joint Arab environmental action system.
She concluded her address by reiterating Kuwait’s hope that the outcomes of the session will constitute a qualitative addition to the Council’s trajectory, contributing to the unification of visions, integration of efforts, and the preservation of the environment and natural resources, thereby supporting development and prosperity and safeguarding the rights of future generations. (End) M.M. / A.S.
