KUWAIT: Kuwait approaches environmental and climate issues not merely as international obligations but as a deeply rooted national belief shared by both the government and the people, said Minister of Oil and Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment, Tareq Al-Roumi. Speaking at the opening of the Regional Dialogue on Accelerating Article 6 Readiness in West Asia under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on Wednesday, Al-Roumi emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to protecting its environment and preserving natural resources for future generations.
He noted that the Cabinet has recently approved a comprehensive environmental roadmap requiring all relevant entities to submit a biannual report on its implementation — a step that reflects the government’s seriousness in turning environmental policies into tangible realities. Al-Roumi added that Kuwait’s hosting of the regional dialogue, organized in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), underscores the country’s leading role regionally and internationally in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
He highlighted that these national efforts reflect the vision and directives of the country’s leadership who continue to prioritize climate issues on Kuwait’s national, regional, and global agenda. Since joining the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992, Kuwait has been an active partner in international negotiations and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions, reaffirming its commitment to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities,” in line with its national priorities for achieving sustainable development.
Sami Dimassi, Regional Director and Representative of UNEP for West Asia, stressed the urgency of enhancing regional climate readiness ahead of the upcoming COP30 conference in Brazil. He warned that current global projections indicate a temperature rise between 2.5°C and 2.9°C this century — far exceeding the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement — which poses serious risks to water security, food systems and energy supplies in West Asia. Dimassi highlighted the pivotal role of Article six of the Paris Agreement, describing it as a key framework for international cooperation through both market and non-market mechanisms.
These mechanisms, he noted, could reduce global emission costs by up to $250 billion annually by 2030. Despite the institutional and technical challenges some countries still face in implementing Article six, he said addressing these gaps could unlock significant opportunities for West Asia to accelerate its energy transition, mobilize climate finance, and strengthen regional collaboration. He concluded by expressing hope that the dialogue would serve as an active platform for knowledge exchange and capacity-building, paving the way for measurable progress in implementing Article six across the region.
