His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed that environmental protection and addressing the impacts of climate change have become integral components of the national visions of GCC states.
This statement was made during his speech at the 26th meeting of the Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs in the GCC, held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, in the Qatari capital, Doha. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Qatar, with participation from esteemed ministers responsible for environmental affairs in the GCC countries.
At the beginning of his speech, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar and current President of the Supreme Council of the GCC, as well as to Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC states for their significant attention to environmental issues in the context of joint GCC cooperation.
During his address, he noted that GCC countries are working to enhance environmental policies, promote renewable energy reliance, and reduce carbon emissions to achieve a balance between development and environmental protection.
“On the international front, collective cooperation to address climate change and other environmental challenges has become essential among all countries, with GCC states actively contributing to global cooperation and providing solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change while preserving the environment,” His Excellency stated.
He also congratulated the United Arab Emirates on successfully hosting the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference and expressed his wishes for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s success in hosting the upcoming 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in December.
His Excellency mentioned that the previous session of the Ministerial Council of Foreign Ministers of the GCC approved the participation of the GCC General Secretariat in this conference. He indicated that the General Secretariat will have a dedicated pavilion aimed at showcasing the Council’s plans and efforts in this area, encouraging member states to participate and organise activities within the GCC pavilion.
In conclusion, he expressed his appreciation to His Excellency Dr Al Subaie for the excellent preparation of the meeting and commended the efforts of all ministers and officials responsible for environmental affairs in the GCC countries.
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