M. Al-Ramzi: The association is taking its campaign to raise awareness of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict to the COP31 Climate Summit.
«The Environment Protection Agency enhances the presence of Kuwaiti civil society by providing seats for the Kuwaiti Water Association and the Crisis and Emergency Management Association within its delegation.
On the way to Antalya, the Kuwait Environment Protection Society carries a national and environmental responsibility that goes beyond the traditional participation in international conferences, as it prepares to convey the message of November 6, the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, to one of the most important international forums concerned with climate action, through its participation in the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), which will be hosted by the Turkish city of Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026.
In this regard, the head of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society delegation participating in the Climate Summit, environmental engineer Yousef Al-Ramzi, said: “This participation comes within the activities of the campaign to raise awareness of the International Day, which was launched by the Society in 2017, and it continued to organize its awareness and scientific activities to raise awareness of the goals of the UN resolution, and to highlight the historical Kuwaiti role in its adoption, as this year’s participation coincides with the celebration of the silver jubilee of twenty-five years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution No. 56/4 on November 5, 2001.”.
M. Al-Ramzi added: “The association brings to this international forum a pioneering Kuwaiti experience, which began with its demand in 2000 to dedicate an international day to protect the environment from the effects of wars, following the enormous environmental destruction that the State of Kuwait suffered as a result of the Iraqi invasion and the burning of oil wells, and the subsequent diplomatic follow-up led by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, until the occasion was adopted by the United Nations in 2001.”.
He stated: “The association affirms that the celebration of the silver jubilee is not limited to commemorating this historic achievement, but rather represents a renewed responsibility to convey the Kuwaiti message to the international community, especially in light of the escalation of armed conflicts and the resulting pollution and destruction of natural resources and infrastructure, as well as the depletion of financial resources and the disruption of projects and commitments related to climate action.”.
In support of this participation, Al-Ramzi noted: “The association’s delegation is sponsored by North Al-Zour First Energy and Water Company, in a step that reflects the importance of partnership between civil society organizations and the private sector in supporting the Kuwaiti presence in international forums, promoting initiatives with an environmental and humanitarian dimension, and highlighting the role of social responsibility in supporting national efforts aimed at achieving sustainability.”.
On another aspect of its participation, Al-Ramzi continues: “The Kuwait Environment Protection Society was keen to expand the umbrella of Kuwaiti civil representation at the Climate Conference, by providing seats within its delegation to both the Kuwaiti Water Association and the Kuwaiti Society for Crisis and Emergency Management, thus enabling them to participate in the conference activities, learn about international experiences and initiatives related to their specializations, and build bridges of communication with participating institutions and organizations.”.
He stressed that “this initiative reflects the association’s belief in the importance of integration among Kuwaiti public benefit institutions, and that participation in international forums should not be limited to one institution, but can form a common platform to enhance national expertise and expand opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange, especially in issues where environmental protection, water resource management, and crisis and disaster response intersect with climate challenges.”.
“Through its participation, the association seeks to emphasize that protecting the environment during wars and armed conflicts is one of the important dimensions of environmental and climate justice, and that wars not only destroy ecosystems and natural resources, but also hinder efforts to adapt to climate change, delay the implementation of environmental projects, and multiply the economic and humanitarian burdens on affected communities,” he explained.
“The association hopes that its activities in Antalya will contribute to expanding awareness of the International Day of November 6, enhancing its presence in international discussions related to climate, peace and environmental security, and highlighting the experience of the State of Kuwait as a model for transforming a national environmental tragedy into a continuous international initiative,” he noted.
Al-Ramzi added, “Thus, the Kuwait Environment Protection Society is heading to Antalya, carrying with it a national legacy that extends for more than half a century of voluntary environmental work, an international message that has been adopted for twenty-five years, and a continuous responsibility to defend the right of human beings and future generations to a safe and sustainable environment, even in the most difficult circumstances of wars and armed conflicts.”.
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– Environmental engineer Youssef Al-Ramzi, head of the Environmental Association delegation participating in the climate summit in Antalya
