Al-Farsi: Utilizing space land for temporary parking is a pioneering step toward a sustainable urban environment
Aliya Al-Farsi, a member of the Municipal Council and an engineer, stated that with the decision issued by the Council of Ministers to utilize vacant lands as temporary surface parking lots, it is crucial to address the phenomenon of urban heat islands. Extensive areas of asphalt and concrete, coupled with the absence of trees and shading, contribute to the absorption and storage of heat, leading to higher temperatures in the urban environment. This results in environmental impacts, increased energy consumption, and a decline in urban environmental quality.
In a statement, Al-Farsi explained that the proposal to establish a sustainable code for parking lots in Kuwait represents a practical opportunity to begin implementing the proposal’s recommendations and adopting sustainability specifications and standards in the design and construction of parking facilities. She emphasized that it is possible to start by setting minimum environmental requirements for new parking lots, such as:
She noted that these requirements aim to mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce its impacts, rather than allowing new parking projects to exacerbate the issue. Al-Farsi clarified that expanding investment in parking facilities presents an opportunity to improve the urban environment and enhance parking services, provided that planning and standards considering sustainability are integrated from the outset.
Al-Farsi pointed to the potential of learning from the experiences of Gulf states, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar, in testing and applying cool paving technologies. This involves using light-colored, reflective materials and coatings to limit surface heat absorption from solar radiation.
She added that with the move to create temporary parking lots on vacant lands, there is an opportunity to form a technical team to establish minimum environmental specifications and standards suitable for Kuwait’s climate, thereby curbing the worsening of urban heat islands. She noted that a condition requiring adherence to specifications and standards that respect environmental sustainability principles was added during the discussion in the Technical Committee on the Council of Ministers’ directives and decision, in case we proceed with investing in these services.
Al-Farsi highlighted that her previous proposal includes numerous improvements to parking lots, such as planting trees, providing services, pedestrian walkways, parking spaces for electric vehicles, and the use of solar panels. She praised the Council of Ministers’ initiative to regulate vacant spaces, as well as the efforts of the Kuwait Municipality, in cooperation with the Ministries of Finance and Interior, to inventory the lands and study each individually regarding administrative and legal procedures.
