UN Official: 'Kuwait Plants' Campaign Transforms Environmental Awareness into Sustainable Initiatives

Dr. Amira Al-Hasan, Head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Mission to Kuwait and the Gulf Arab States, emphasized the importance of enhancing community participation in greening efforts and addressing the impacts of climate change. She noted that the “Kuwait Plants” campaign in its new season continues to work on transforming environmental awareness into practical and sustainable initiatives.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday, marking the launch of the 2026-2027 season of the campaign through a greening event organized by UN-Habitat in cooperation with the diplomatic corps accredited to Kuwait, Al-Hasan said that the participation of more than 60 embassies and international organizations accredited to the country reflects the interest in environmental and sustainability issues, as well as the importance of international and community partnerships in supporting greening efforts.

She added that the campaign aims to highlight Kuwait’s efforts to confront the effects of climate change and its endeavors to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, raise awareness about the importance of increasing green spaces, support youth, grassroots, and volunteer initiatives, and engage the community and the diplomatic corps in greening efforts.

Al-Hasan clarified that the participation of ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions, and international organizations in planting trees conveys a message of friendship, cooperation, and shared responsibility toward the environment, contributing to efforts aimed at building a more sustainable urban environment in Kuwait.

Regarding the Kuwaiti-Turkish Friendship Park (formerly known as Nile Park), Al-Hasan confirmed that field works for the park’s development were carried out with 100 percent Kuwaiti funding, Kuwaiti hands, and Kuwaiti volunteer efforts, involving local residents, volunteers, and the “Enviro Group” volunteer team. She noted that UN-Habitat’s role focuses on awareness, guidance, knowledge transfer, and supporting volunteers’ capacities.

“We handed them the planting tools, and they did the work with their own hands. Today, the local volunteer team has taken the initiative, taking charge of completing the work, developing the park, and maintaining it,” she said.

She added that the conclusion of UN-Habitat’s executive role and the transfer of the initiative’s responsibility to the local community is one of the key indicators of its success, stating, “Our role today is to return to the park as visitors, enjoy the results of the greening accomplished by Kuwaiti hands, and see community members continuing to develop what we started together.”

Al-Hasan expressed her pride in the continuity of the “Kuwait Plants” campaign since its launch in 2017 and its expansion over the past years, noting that cooperation with Kuwait Oil Company since 2019 has helped broaden the campaign’s scope and support its progress.

She said, “We hope that after these years, the ‘Kuwait Plants’ culture has become firmly rooted in society, and that it continues and develops through the hands of Kuwaitis, its youth, institutions, and volunteer initiatives. The goal is not merely to keep the campaign’s name alive, but to make greening and community participation a sustainable culture and practice.”

In conclusion, Al-Hasan expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the participating ambassadors, diplomatic mission representatives, and international organizations, as well as to local residents, volunteers, and the “Enviro Group” team for their efforts. She affirmed that the “Kuwait Plants” campaign will continue to support community and youth initiatives and promote the culture of sustainability and environmental volunteerism.