Minister of 'Development and Sustainability': Kuwait continues to consolidate sustainability and enhance joint Arab environmental efforts

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 on 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, with the participation of ministers and senior officials concerned with environmental affairs from Arab countries.

Dr. Al-Faleh stated that, in line with the high directives of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Kuwait continues to support the trajectory of joint Arab action and expand areas 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 framework and a cornerstone for economic and social development, encompassing the protection of human health, the conservation of natural resources, and the guarantee of the rights of future generations.

Dr. Al-Faleh outlined the key steps taken by Kuwait during 2026, noting the establishment of a new ministry dedicated to 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 pathway.

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 Low-Carbon Development Roadmap 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 state’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 one of the main pathways within the sustainability framework. Kuwait has developed a risk management system based on data, monitoring, and early warning, and has prepared the National Environmental Risk Register.

On the Arab level, Dr. Al-Faleh called for developing a model for joint environmental action 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 enhancing Arab solidarity and coordination in regional and international forums, reflecting the priorities, developmental needs, and specificities of the Arab region. This support should uphold the right of Arab states to achieve a just and balanced transition toward more sustainable economies, taking into account differences in national circumstances, capacities, and resources.

She emphasized the importance of directing Arab cooperation toward sectors with direct impact, including the green and circular economies, desertification control, protection of biodiversity and the marine environment, improvement of 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 framework, and building partnerships capable of translating sustainable development goals into tangible projects and outcomes.

Al-Faleh stated that the true benchmark for the success of Arab environmental efforts lies in “our ability to transform recommendations into policies, policies into programs, and programs into real impact that Arab citizens can feel, preserving our nations’ resources and capacities and enhancing their resilience and adaptability.”

She expressed Kuwait’s hope that the 37th session would yield practical and implementable decisions that enhance the preparedness of Arab countries for environmental risks and emergencies, and support the sustainable management of natural resources, emphasizing the importance of developing mechanisms to monitor the implementation of Council decisions and measure their outcomes.

Al-Faleh congratulated the sisterly Republic of Yemen on assuming the presidency of the current session, and expressed appreciation to the sisterly Islamic Republic of Mauritania for its efforts during the previous session’s presidency, as well as to the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States for its role in supporting the framework of joint Arab environmental action.

In conclusion, she reaffirmed Kuwait’s hope that the outcomes of the session would constitute a qualitative addition to the Council’s trajectory, contributing to the harmonization of visions, complementarity of efforts, and conservation of the environment and natural resources, thereby supporting development and prosperity and safeguarding the rights of future generations.