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: 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

KUWAIT: They stand at gas stations, their faces dripping with sweat. They work on construction sites, wrapping scarves around their heads to block the sun. They sweep streets, collect garbage, and deliver packages. While most people stay indoors to escape Kuwait’s extreme summer heat, these workers don’t have that option.

“It’s tiring, but what can we do?” said a gas station worker, when asked about enduring the intense temperatures. “This is the contract, and we have to follow the work conditions,” he added, noting that his job requires 12-hour shifts with just a 20-minute break. “We take turns resting – one of us goes into the room to cool off, then the other comes out to work.”

While Kuwait’s Ministerial Decision No. 535 of 2015 bans outdoor work between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm from June 1 to August 31, the heat doesn’t obey the clock. Temperatures often remain high outside those hours.

This reality has raised urgent concerns among human rights advocates, who say current protections fall short of addressing the full scope of risk that workers face on a daily basis.

Kuwait Society for Human Rights Chairman Khalid Al-Humaidi is among those calling for a stronger commitment to worker safety. He stresses that the midday ban is only part of the legal framework meant to protect outdoor laborers.

Ministerial Decision No. 198 of 2010, he notes, is far more comprehensive and should be more actively enforced. It requires employers to take a range of preventive measures, from providing sun-protective gear, gloves, and proper footwear, to ensuring uniforms are designed to reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption.

Al-Humaidi emphasized that cold drinking water must be provided in sufficient quantities, and rest areas must be well ventilated – or ideally air-conditioned – to give workers a chance to recover.

The law also places responsibility on employers to educate workers about the signs of heat exhaustion and ensure supervisors are trained to respond immediately when symptoms arise. These measures, according to Al-Humaidi, are an extension of Labor Law No. 6 of 2010 (regarding work in the private sector), which contains an entire chapter on occupational health and safety. And they are not optional extras.

Lack of enforcement

While laws exist on paper, Al-Humaidi pointed out that enforcement remains weak. Many employers, he explained, unknowingly violate these regulations simply because they are unaware of the ministerial decisions that form an integral part of the labor code. As a result, critical safety measures are often neglected, putting vulnerable workers at even greater risk during the summer months.

He also highlighted the importance of broader legal regulations that guide Kuwait’s labor framework. These include Ministerial Decision No. 208 of 2011, which outlines exposure limits and workplace safety standards, and Ministerial Decision No. 224 of 2014, which mandates clear safety signage in work areas. Kuwait’s commitment to labor rights extends internationally as well: the country has ratified 19 conventions from the International Labour Organization (ILO), including seven of the eight core principles that promote dignity, equality and safety at work. In 2022, the ILO further emphasized that a safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental right – one that must be upheld by all member states.

Yet the gap between Kuwait’s legal commitments and on-the-ground realities remains clear. Al-Humaidi is calling for immediate action: not only stricter monitoring and enforcement of labor laws but also increased awareness among employers and workers alike. “We need to stop thinking of safety as an added cost,” Al-Humaidi said. “It’s an investment in people. And people are the foundation of every workplace.”