His Highness, the Crown Prince, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabahd, during the Green Middle East Initiative summit in Riyadh affirmed “Kuwait was and still is at the forefront of countries seeking to achieve human and environmental sustainability, and a supportive partner for everything that would coordinate regional and international efforts to combat global climate change.”
He declared “Kuwait’s full support for the efforts of its big brother Saudi Arabia and the package of initiatives Riyadh has presented to protect the environment and its confidence in the good management of this vital file under the supervision of His Royal Highness, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Muhammad bin Salman for the Green Middle East Initiative, reported Al-Jarida daily
His Highness said — in his opening speech at the summit, which was chaired by Mohammed Bin Salman — a wide Gulf and international presence, “comes in exceptional circumstances, as the whole world needs sustainability plans and attention to the climate, environment and economy,” noting that “it is no longer a secret that the continuation of climate change leads us to a series of disasters, including forest fires, floods, destruction of agricultural crops, drought and water scarcity.
His Highness added Saudi Arabia’s call to launch this initiative stems from its pivotal and responsible role in the region and the world at large to establish the concept of comprehensive security, economically, climatically, environmentally and from the humanitarian point of view, calling it destiny and not choice.
Stressing that Kuwait will be one of the countries that will suffer from climate change, His Highness reviewed the projects launched by the country at the national level within the framework of its environmental strategy within the ‘New Kuwait 2035’ vision, stressing that it is taking place in close partnership between specialized government agencies, the oil sector, private sector companies and civil society.
He stated “Kuwait has a vision that confirms that the future of mankind lies in green solutions, wise management of environmental assets, and the importance of linking individual efforts with regional and international initiatives,” pointing to “the great interest that Kuwait attaches to the environment, and the challenges it faces, under the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad.”
He talked about Kuwait’s possession of “environmental sustainability plans aimed at enhancing carbon-neutral pathways, increasing forestation, establishing reserves, rehabilitating oil sector facilities, reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, introducing renewable energies and sustaining energy supplies for future generations, and initiating the implementation of a number of projects, including the environmental fuel project the Al-Zour refinery, sulfur handling, and the fifth gas pipeline.”
Bin Salman had launched the “Green Middle East” initiative at the summit, which he said aims to invest 39 billion riyals ($10.4 billion) to reduce carbon emissions in the region and protect the environment, revealing the establishment of a cooperation platform to implement the concept of a circular carbon economy and launching two 39 climate initiatives at a cost of one billion riyals, saying Saudi Arabia will contributes 15 towards the project.
He also announced the establishment of the Green Initiative Foundation as a non-profit organization to support the summit’s work in the future, as well as the establishment of a regional program for cloud seeding, the establishment of a regional center for sustainable development of fisheries, as well as the establishment of a regional center for early warning of storms in the region.
Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II said: “We see hope in the green projects launched by Saudi Arabia, and the educational system should be developed to confront climate change.”