By Sidi Mohamed
DOHA: The undersecretaries responsible for environment affairs from the GCC countries held their 36th meeting yesterday at St. Regis Hotel and discussed various issues.
The two-day meeting comes at the end of a Gulf environment conference Qatar’s Ministry of Environment hosted since October 17. The meeting was chaired by Qatar’s Assistant Undersecretary for Environment Affairs Ahmed Mohamed Al Sada.
In his opening speech, he said, “The environment in the GCC countries is facing challenges, natural hazards and man-made problems,” calling on the GCC countries to unify ideas, visions and efforts and harness all possibilities to overcome the effects of these challenges on human life and society. The GCC countries are working hard to achieve sustainable environment by concentrating on protecting and developing the environment.
“We have many challenges related to water management, energy, waste, desertification and climate change which require us to make our societies aware, encourage environmentally-friendly initiatives, support cooperation, exchange knowledge and use of new technology.”
Later, to a question by this daily, Al Sada said: “Prominent environment-related issues discussed included ozone, wildlife and climate change agreements.”
On environment police, he said, “It is not necessary to have environment police, it may just be an administrative body specialising in protecting the environment.”
Dr Adel bin Khalifa Al Zayani, President, Human Affairs and Environment, GCC Secretariat-General, said: “The GCC countries must prepare to avoid any potential effects of climate change by taking suitable decisions and coordinate efforts at international forums.” The meeting ends today with discussion on issues it has agreed to raise at a meeting of the ministers of environment tomorrow.
The Peninsula
