QNA
Doha
The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), chaired the third meeting of the technical committee to prepare for the meetings of the undersecretaries responsible for environmental affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The meeting, chaired by Ahmed Al Ibrahim, director of the Environmental Assessment and Permit Department at the MECC, brought together representatives from all GCC member states to discuss key environmental issues. The discussions focused on the Supreme Council’s decision on the 2020 environmental trends in GCC countries, addressing current requirements and challenges. The participants also emphasided the importance of preserving wildlife and natural habitats across the region, reflecting a collective commitment to environmental conservation. Additionally, the meeting reviewed the strategic plan of the committee of ministers responsible for environmental affairs, assessing its implementation and progress among member states.
The meeting also discussed a number of items, including: the Supreme Council’s decision on non-tariff restrictions related to the environment, the strategic plan of the committee of ministers responsible for environmental affairs, the GCC environmental portal, the 16th conference of the parties to the United Nations convention to combat desertification, the establishment of a GCC center for environmental and climate studies, the preparation of a GCC index, and a study of the impact of dust and its relationship to global health standards, its sources and components.
Participants also reviewed a set of items to inform the committee on what has been achieved, including: the Middle East green initiative launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the conference of the parties to the framework convention on climate change ‘COP 28’, the unification of positions in the meetings of the intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, and the participation in the GCC pavilion at the International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha.
