CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar

Focus on sustainable development: Al Rumaihi

Published: 19 Oct 2017 - 11:59 pm | Last Updated: 18 Nov 2021 - 08:44 am
Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi at the 29th session of the Council of Arab Ministers in-charge of environment affairs, in Cairo, yesterday.

Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi at the 29th session of the Council of Arab Ministers in-charge of environment affairs, in Cairo, yesterday.

The Peninsula

The 29th session of the Council of Arab Ministers in-charge of environment affairs started yesterday at the headquarters of the Arab League general secretariat in Cairo.
The Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi handed the presidency of the 29th session of the council of Arab ministers in charge of environment affairs, to the State of Kuwait, which is represented by Kuwait’s Environment Public Authority (EPA) Chairman and Director General, Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al Humoud Al Sabah.
In his opening remarks, Al Rumaihi reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s keenness under the wise leadership of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to support the environment and sustainable development and pay them special attention, which was evident by enlisting this field as one of the pillars of Qatar’s National Development Strategy.
He noted that 18 countries, including Arab nations, have signed a foundation document in Doha on October 15 to establish the Global Dryland Alliance.
The minister expressed hope that the meeting’s outputs will help in enhancing joint Arab action in the field of environment and sustainable development, boost the opportunities of cooperation in the environment field, and limit climate change.
Al Rumaihi reviewed Qatar’s efforts during its presidency of the 28th session, extending thanks to the Arab League secretary general and staff for their efforts in this regard.
“I was honoured to chair the council this past year,” he said, noting that the meeting is a proof of the pressing need for sustainable development and stressing the importance of implementing the decisions of the regular Arab summits in relation to the environment, the sustainable development initiative and the development and economic Arab summit decisions.
The minister added that the State of Qatar made great efforts during its presidency of the last session in order to preserve Arab interests and set priorities, notably the goals of sustainable development, combating desertification and biodiversity, and Arab action in climate change negotiations.
He also highlighted his efforts to invite Arab countries that did not sign the Arab environment facility in order to accelerate its ratification, praising at the same time the efforts that led to the establishment of the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction 2030.
The meeting is set to discuss the agenda, which includes 27 items dealing with means of the implementing the decisions of the Arab economic and social development summits, especially in relation to inviting Arab countries that have signed the statute of the Arab environment facility but have not ratified it.
It also touched on the monitoring of nuclear pollution in border areas with Israel and its effects on the Arab region, in addition to following up on the collection of the results of radiological monitoring in Arab countries that neighbor nuclear plants and reactors.
In addition, the meeting will discuss a draft resolution on environment and sustainable development indicators in the Arab region in the light of the recommendations of the Arab group on Environment and Sustainable Development Indicators.