June 21st, 2009 @ kadraoui
BAHRAIN should set up a climate change think-tank to help shape its national environment policy, says a top government official. The mandate of the task force would be to explicitly set out the trade-off between environmental protection and economic development, said Foreign Ministry bilateral relations director Ambassador Dr Dhafer Alumran. The think-tank would determine public consensus on the appropriate balance and use it to inform government policy in drafting legislations, rules and regulations. Dr Alumran was speaking at a one-day environment conference at the Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort, Al Areen, yesterday.
“The panel will review evidence on environment challenges, raise awareness, consult and make detailed policy recommendations in all areas affected by e n v i r o n m e n t issues,” he said. “It might also address issues such as urban planning, disaster management and construction standards. ”Dr Alumran suggested the committee be represented by the government, private sector, academic experts and civil society and chaired by Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife president Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa. He said according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report 2007 small island states were vulnerable to storm surges, erosion and threats to vital infrastructure, settlements and facilities.
Dr Alumran had highlighted the implications of climate change on Bahrain in a paper he authored in 1991. He said environment concerns were at the heart of Bahrain’s Vision 2030, adding that the country should step up its international efforts to address climate issues.
The forum, ‘Environmental Protection, Water and Power Conservation – Critical Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities’, was held under the patronage of Shaikh Abdulla. Key speakers included commission director general Dr Adel Al Zayani, Royal Charity Organisation general-secretary Dr Mustafa Al Sayed and Bapco chief executive Abdulkarim Al Sayed.
Dr Al Zayani said Bahrain’s limited natural resources were under pressure mainly due to population growth, industrialization and urbanisation. He said the commission had developed the Bahrain National Environmental Strategy, which highlighted the methods, strategy and action plans for environment management in accordance with Bahrain’s Vision 2030. He said Bahrain’s environment policy was based on the precautionary principle, the polluterpays principle, the sustainability concept and the concept of shared responsibility. United Nations Environment Programme regional office for West Asia deputy regional director Dr Basel Al Yousfi said a major concern was water scarcity and most of the region was under the water poverty line. “Before we start our projects it is vital to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment. We need full accounting and we may find that the projects we develop may not be as cost effective as we think.”
Dr Al Sayed said it was everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment and each person could help by recycling, reducing energy consumption and reporting environment violations. All sectors could play a role in educating the public, conducting environment research and involving members or employees in projects such as beach clean-ups, he said.
becky@gdn.com.bh
Tags: Climate, Gulf Daily News, Press