Dr. Wijdan Al-Oqab, President of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society, called for “accelerating national, regional, and global efforts to address climate change and promote the transition towards low-emission development and the building of more resilient societies.” This came on the occasion of World Environment Day, which falls on Friday, June 5th, this year under the theme ”Action for Climate.” She emphasized the importance of an effective response to the growing environmental challenges, starting with action at the local level. She considered that “celebrating World Environment Day is an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to protecting the environment and achieving sustainable development, ensuring a safe and prosperous future for future generations in the Arab region. It also represents a message to solidify environmental awareness and stimulate joint action at both the governmental and societal levels to address environmental challenges, foremost among them pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable consumption.” On the occasion of World Environment Day, Al-Oqab affirms: “The Kuwait Environment Protection Society is proud to have made significant contributions to environmental work at the local, Gulf, regional, and international levels since 1974, spanning over 52 years. It has been accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Framework Convention on Climate Change, and holds active memberships in international environmental organizations, demonstrating its competence in its field throughout these years.” She highlighted the Society’s rich historical record across all sectors, including: “It was among the first environmental societies in the Arab world, contributing to the establishment of the Environment Public Authority, and playing a role in creating several nature reserves in Kuwait. It also launched the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, and contributed to the drafting of Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014, continuing its work and participation in proposed amendments. In the field of education, it launched the Green Schools Program, which has helped raise environmental awareness among school students, and established a foundation for environmental media through a series of documentaries documenting wildlife in Kuwait, comprising more than nine television seasons.“ She pointed out that ”the Environment Society established the Gulf Network of Environmental NGOs and heads its executive office. It also holds memberships in numerous international environmental organizations, including, but not limited to, the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR), the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and BirdLife International, among others too numerous to mention here.“ She added, ”This global movement begins with local action, and civil society organizations are the cornerstone for structuring such work at a level that allows individual participation.“ She stated, ”We must express our gratitude to the state for its support of civil organizations and the Society over the years, enabling it to fulfill its duties to the fullest extent.“ She called for continued funding to ensure the sustainability of pioneering volunteer work in the environmental field. In this context, the Kuwait Environment Protection Society called for the protection of this environmental legacy through continued financial and logistical support for the Society’s activities and events, allowing it to continue its commendable contributions both within and outside Kuwait.
