In a press statement today, the Kuwait Environment Protection Society stressed “the importance of renewing the commitment to social justice and transforming this commitment into concrete actions that place human beings at the heart of the sustainable development process, by launching and expanding the scope of social participation justice for everyone, whether they are individuals or civil institutions and organizations, as an active strategic partner in the pillars, foundations and elements of that comprehensive development.”.
In this regard, the Environment Society praised “the importance that the State of Kuwait attaches to promoting comprehensive and sustainable social development, and supporting national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Kuwait Vision 2035 in line with global and international goals, including eradicating poverty, promoting productive employment, achieving social inclusion, and moving forward to a more inclusive and prosperous future for all, based on its deep belief in the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing the social and economic challenges facing societies, especially in light of the rapid global transformations and the new requirements they impose to achieve social justice, equal opportunities, and empower vulnerable groups to participate effectively in development.”.
The association added that it “enhances and supports the reality of its diverse applied programs and activities with many activities that address the issue of extracurricular education in its pioneering program, the Green Schools Program, which was launched 15 years ago. It provides science, environmental awareness, and an introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals in educational institutions, and empowers youth through specialized teams and committees.” It continued, “The Sustainable Development Goals have also been at the forefront of the workshops and courses of the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Environmental Training over the years, providing comprehensive awareness of these goals and the role of governmental institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations in achieving them, and an analysis of the impact of these roles on society.”.
The association stated, “It has been concerned with comprehensive community growth and enhancing community awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals and their applications in the State of Kuwait, through its television awareness programs in the documentary series documenting wildlife in the State of Kuwait, which, due to the quality of its production of more than 250 episodes, has become a nucleus for Arab environmental media, not just local media, according to reports of the League of Arab States.”.
“At the regional and international level, the Kuwait Environment Protection Society addressed climate resilience and climate action through its activities and its role in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, its accreditation in the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Programme for Disaster Risk Reduction, and its memberships in regional and international organizations and unions working to achieve these goals,” she explained, adding, “This is in confirmation of its vision aimed at ensuring the inclusiveness and fairness of community participation, with the goal of integrating different age groups and community sectors into programs related to social development, and embodying the effective participation of civil institutions, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders, as well as enhancing awareness of the interdependence and synergy between the various governmental and civil entities in the country.”.
The Kuwait Environment Protection Society, in its commentary on the launch of the “Second World Summit for Social Development Doha 2025“, noted that it ”has launched many activities that reflect the qualitative social partnership and harmony between governmental bodies, civil organizations, initiators and stakeholders, including its annual organization of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction event, which this year it organized in cooperation with the Kuwait Fire Force, under the patronage and in the presence of its Chairman, Major General Talal Al-Roumi, and with the participation of governmental bodies and international and Arab civil organizations.“ In this context, it pointed to the importance of ”the awareness campaign for November 6, the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, which the Society organizes annually with broad Kuwaiti, Arab, international and diplomatic participation. This international day was requested by the State of Kuwait 26 years ago and was declared in 2001 according to United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 56/4 on November 5, 2001, which designated November 6 as the International Day.”.
The association affirmed that “this is an achievement that is credited to the State of Kuwait for its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and its anticipation of those goals by about a decade. Preventing the use of the environment in wars and military conflicts achieves many of the Sustainable Development Goals. With wars, these goals cannot be achieved, and words cannot be manipulated to show otherwise. What fight against poverty and hunger can we have under the shadow of aggression and starvation that affects many peoples? What good education and health can we talk about under bombardment, abuse, and the rising numbers of victims, martyrs, wounded, and disabled people!”.
The statement noted, “The goals of providing drinking water, electricity, and sustainable cities are being violated through the destruction of infrastructure, which harms successive generations. Such violations have affected natural resources such as groundwater, productive agricultural soil, air quality, and water bodies.” The Kuwait Environment Protection Society concluded its statement by saying, “Within the framework of the 36th session of the Arab Experts Committee on the Environment and the 4th session of the Arab Environment Forum: “Towards Integrated Environmental Policies for the Benefit of Humanity,” which was recently held in Mauritania, the events witnessed numerous prior and ongoing coordination mechanisms with Dr. Mahmoud Fathallah, Head of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs at the League of Arab States. There is always alignment of visions between the Society and the Secretariat.” The Society announced its “readiness to participate and offer its expertise in this field, which is concerned with the diversity, equity, and expansion of social participation in the axes and dimensions of environmental work with all governmental bodies and civil organizations inside and outside the State of Kuwait.”.
