KUWAIT: Kuwait is prioritizing environmental concerns as a pivotal and strategic pillar within its national plans and future programs. Over the past two years, the government has intensified its efforts to adopt strategies for environmental sustainability, guided by the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The Cabinet has played a key role in advancing the national vision for environmental sustainability, regularly placing the long-term low-carbon development roadmap at the forefront of its agenda.In this context, Oil Minister Tareq Al-Roumi and officials from the Environment Public Authority (EPA) presented a visual outline of the roadmap in July.

This plan aims to enhance resilience against climate change by employing integrated, innovative, and technical solutions within a circular carbon economy, and it also includes supportive initiatives for environmental innovation and green investment across multiple sectors. Kuwait has strengthened coordination with China to activate memoranda of understanding (MoU) in key areas, such as low-carbon green systems for waste recycling, electrical infrastructure, renewable energy, and the environmental development of sewage treatment facilities.

These agreements serve as key components in translating the country’s ambitious goals into tangible steps toward a sustainable future aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035. A central aim is to preserve the environment for future generations. In parallel, Kuwait’s 2050 Low-Carbon Strategy, launched by the EPA in November 2023 in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and other state sectors, underscores its commitment to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

 Kuwait became the second Gulf country to present such a strategy. The country is targeting carbon neutrality by 2060, with a focus on diversifying energy revenue, increasing renewable energy use, replacing fossil fuels with natural gas, and utilizing waste to support environmental sustainability. The first State of the Environment Report, issued by the EPA last year, marks a major milestone in assessing environmental conditions and exemplifies successful cooperation among governmental agencies.Prepared in collaboration with the UN, the report focuses on seven key areas: Climate change, waste management, water resources, biodiversity, marine and coastal environments, and more.The EPA’s efforts have led to the launch of four strategic projects focused on environmental protection, sustainable development, waste management, and combating desertification. These initiatives aim to improve performance indicators and foster public-private partnerships in environmental preservation.Urban planning efforts, such as Kuwait’s Fourth Structural Plan (2040 Master Plan), promote green buildings and healthier living environments.

On the legislative side, Kuwait’s environmental protection law includes policies aimed at conserving natural resources and ecosystems. These measures are designed to prevent or reduce air pollution, ensure biodiversity, and promote sustainable living conditions. The law mandates the identification and regulation of fixed pollution sources and enforces penalties for environmental violations.

During the recent Sustainable Energy Conference, Kuwait reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a balanced energy mix, aiming for 50 percent of its electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025. In his speech, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Acting Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs, Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, emphasized the adoption of comprehensive plans and ambitious projects that align with Kuwait’s global commitments and its vision for a sustainable future.Kuwait’s renewable energy strategy involves three tracks: Long-term projects like the Shagaya Renewable Energy Park, short-term solutions, and smaller-scale initiatives requiring all facilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources.

The Shagaya project, a public-private partnership, is being developed in two phases: the first will generate 1,100 MW, and the second 500 MW.The Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources is also advancing initiatives to expand green cover across the country by planting trees and increasing green spaces in parks and along streets. The authority has implemented plans for artificial barriers and redistributed agricultural areas to help control sand dunes, fight desertification, and mitigate pollution.

Public parks remain a cornerstone of Kuwait’s environmental efforts, offering diverse green spaces across the country.Kuwait has consistently affirmed its commitment to regional and international environmental agreements and has actively collaborated with global organizations in this field. In this context, Sami Dimassi, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) representative and Regional Director for West Asia, praised Kuwait’s commitment to developing responsive strategies and action plans that address urgent environmental needs.

He highlighted the progress Kuwait has made in promoting environmental initiatives and sustainable development. Ghada Al-Taher, UN Resident Coordinator in Kuwait, lauded the country’s active role in environmental sustainability and its participation in initiatives addressing critical issues such as desertification, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss. Kuwait ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1995 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 and has consistently participated in global climate summits.At the Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022 in Sharm Al-Sheikh in Egypt, Kuwait reaffirmed its full commitment to the initiative’s outcomes-marking a key regional turning point in climate action and a foundation for regional collaboration in combating climate change. — KUNA

KUWAIT: In a medical first for Kuwait, a surgical team at Farwaniya Hospital successfully repaired a chronic shoulder tendon tear using a biological patch, offering new hope to patients with severe tendon damage. The groundbreaking procedure was performed entirely through arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique that avoids open surgery. According to the team, the use of a biological graft significantly speeds up recovery and enhances shoulder function in cases where traditional tendon repair would not be possible.

“We performed a repair for a patient with a chronic tendon tear that had been present for over a year,” said Lead Surgeon Dr Bader Albesharah in an interview with KTV which aired on Monday. “The tendons were severely damaged — they had turned from fibrous tissue into fatty layers — so conventional methods couldn’t work.”

Rotator cuff tears, like the one treated in this case, are common – affecting about one in three people over the age of 60. While surgical repair is often effective, studies show that full tendon healing occurs in only about 60 percent of cases, even with advances in surgical techniques and implants. This has prompted surgeons around the world to explore new strategies to improve outcomes – one of which is the use of biological patches to support the healing process.

Instead, the team used a biological patch, which acts as a scaffold for new tendon tissue to form. “The patch provides an excellent environment for a new tendon to grow,” Dr Albesharah explained. “It supports tendon healing and helps restore joint function more quickly and effectively.”

Biological patches, also known as extracellular matrix (ECM) grafts, are made from human or animal tissue that has been processed to support tendon regeneration. They’re designed to integrate into the body’s tissue, promoting blood flow and delivering proteins that help new tendon fibers grow. In rotator cuff surgeries, these patches act like scaffolding, reinforcing weak or damaged areas and increasing the likelihood of successful healing. The innovative technique is especially beneficial for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular issues, or other metabolic disorders that compromise tendon health.

“In advanced cases, even if you try to reattach the tendon using traditional methods, it won’t hold. There’s just no viable tissue left,” said Dr Albesharah. “But with the biological patch, a new, strong tendon can form. After about a year, the body absorbs the patch naturally.”

The patient is currently undergoing physiotherapy and is expected to fully recover and return to normal life. “The operation was a success, and the patient was discharged the next day,” Dr Abdullah Al-Dha’eena told KTV. “She will wear an arm sling for a month while continuing physical therapy, then gradually resume daily activities.”

KUWAIT: Dusty conditions will persist across Kuwait Tuesday as strong northwesterly winds continue to sweep through the country, the Kuwait Meteorological Department said on Monday. Acting Director of the Meteorological Department Dhirar Al-Ali told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that wind speeds are exceeding 60 kilometers per hour, significantly reducing visibility, especially in open areas. However, he noted that weather conditions are expected to improve by Tuesday evening.

“The country is currently under the influence of the Indian monsoon low, accompanied by a hot and dry air mass,” Al-Ali explained. “This is driving moderate to strong northwesterly winds that are stirring up dust and raising sea waves up to six feet at times.”

According to Al-Ali, winds will gradually begin to subside by Tuesday afternoon. Starting Tuesday evening, winds are expected to shift to a southeasterly direction along the coast, bringing a rise in humidity levels across the country – particularly in coastal areas. This humid spell is expected to last through Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Last Tuesday, Kuwait entered what meteorologists say is the hottest stretch of the year, a 13-day period when temperatures are expected to soar as high as 52°C in some parts of the country. The country’s Meteorological Centre and the Ojairi Scientific Centre have warned that the extreme heat is part of a seasonal phase known locally as “Al-Mirzam.”

The period, which marks the peak of Kuwait’s summer heat, will continue until August 10. The Mirzam phase signals the most intense stretch of the summer, after which the season gradually transitions into “Al Kulaibin,” known for its oppressive humidity, and later into “Suhail”, when conditions begin to ease. — KUNA