Kuwait keen on achieving environment sustainability -- EPA

KUWAIT, April 25 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait is keen to enact legislations and laws, and set programs and plans aiming to preserve and rehabilitate environment for achieving sustainability, said Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Sheikh Abdullah Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Sheikh Abdullah made the statement on Monday while inaugurating a workshop on "environment legislations" held under the auspices of Acting Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Chairman of Supreme Environment Council Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
The three-day workshop, co-organized by EPA, Ministry of Interior, the United Nations Environment Programmes (UNEP) and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), includes seven sessions on several issues and topics, Sheikh Abdullah said.
The environment law No. 42/2014 which was amended in 2015 was enacted to embody an ambition aiming to develop environment action, with the aim of an optimal use of resources, he noted.
He lauded efforts exerted by officers of EPA, indicating that the environment police in Kuwait is the first experiment in GCC member states.
He pointed out that the EPA prioritizes developing control systems, implementing environment laws, promoting national capabilities and providing necessary training courses.
Meanwhile, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Affairs and Director General of the Capital Security Directorate Major General Ibrahim Al-Tarrah said that the Ministry of Interior represented in environment police department supports strongly sustainable development, preserves environment resources and pays attention to environment system.
He stressed the "unlimited" support of the ministry for the environment police and training courses provided to its personnel on the latest developments so as to ensure achieving excellent performance.
UNEP's Director of the Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) Iyad Abumoghli affirmed in a similar speech the importance of strategic partnership with Kuwait, saying that the programme is ready for providing expertise and advice to contribute to building Kuwait's capabilities.
He noted that Kuwait is a leading country on the Gulf, regional and Arab levels which signed the Paris Climate Change Agreement (PCCA).
He said the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly to be hosted by Kenya on May 23-27 will discuss the direction of global environmental policy and international resolutions governing the environment action for decades. Kuwait took part in the signing ceremony of the PCCA in New York on April 23, in the presence of 175 countries.
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, signed the agreement. (end) ndq.msa.hm