GCC Countries’ Environmental Progress Highlighted in Jabal Akhdar Meet

The 43rd environmental summit of undersecretaries from the GCC countries highlighted the GCC countries collective initiatives and progress in protecting the environment in the region. The Environment Authority (EA) of Oman, which chaired the meeting in Jabal Akhdar on Sunday, reminded that the collective initiative for environmental protection, set in motion by the Supreme Council in Muscat in 1985, remains a pillar for coordinated efforts across the GCC.

In this context, Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, chairman of the Environment Authority and summit head, reflected on the GCC’s rich history of collaboration. Amri highlighted key cooperative outcomes including unified environmental systems, wildlife conservation regulations, waste management standards, and a collective approach to radioactive material handling. The meeting decided to establish a unified directive for controlling substances that deplete the ozone layer. Cross-border waste transfers and standards on air, noise, and wastewater also emerged from these efforts.

Drawing attention to the Muscat Declaration of December 2008, Amri emphasized the importance of plans and policies to safeguard the GCC’s environment and natural resources. He commended the GCC nations for their dedicated environmental work and expressed support for the UAE’s role in hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28). He also appreciated Saudi Arabia’s Green Middle East Initiative and Qatar’s hosting of the Doha Horticultural Expo 2023.

Acknowledging broader GCC initiatives, he mentioned their strides in energy transition, water, food security, climate change mitigation, and efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. Khalid bin Ali al Sunaidi, Assistant Secretary for Economic and Development Affairs at the General Secretariat of GCC, presented encouraging data. Between 2020 and 2023, there was a 5.2% reduction in substances that deplete the ozone layer.

From 2005 to 2015, carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 4.5%, with per capita emissions dropping by 10.3%. These figures underscore the region’s positive trajectory in climate change mitigation. Key topics discussed during the summit included the 2020 environmental trends in GCC countries, non-tariff environmental restrictions, and the establishment of a GCC pavilion at COP28.