By Esraa Alharran
KUWAIT: Kuwait is eager to step into the world of sustainable living. After the burning of oil wells and the wave of pollution caused by the use of chemicals affecting the environment, the world is suffering from the aftereffects of this environmental disaster. "The Environment Public Authority has issued several laws related to environmental sustainability in cooperation with concerned government agencies to achieve a clean environment free of pollution,” former Head of the Projects and Construction Department in the Environment Public Authority, Engineer Nasima Al-Kandari, told the Kuwait Times.
Al-Kandari noted that "environmental sustainability is achieved through practices such as rainwater harvesting, organic waste recycling, solar energy, community gardens, recycling programs, and waste reduction using recyclable containers, as well as reducing emissions and engine exhaust, limiting or eliminating plastic use, using sustainable transportation, reusing paper, and protecting plants and animals from air pollution.”
"Environmental sustainability is a critical concept to ensure the continuity of a healthy and sustainable life on Earth. Achieving this requires collective cooperation and action to conserve natural resources and reduce harmful environmental impacts by adopting sustainable consumption behaviors and raising public awareness about the importance of environmental protection. We can build a better future for ourselves and future generations,” she added.
Dr. Manal Al-Kandari, Research Scientist at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, mentioned that "the coral islands in Kuwait, like Qaruh, Kubbar, and Umm Al-Maradim, are a healthy habitat for sea animals and corals. The newly discovered species that were found and the marine biodiversity in a region are an indication of the region’s healthy environment,” Dr. Al-Kandari said. She also explained that "by keeping a healthy and clean marine life, we are keeping a healthy lifecycle, as sea creatures are important food sources for different birds and other sea animals.
As for education, Dalal Al-Masoud, the private education officer from the Ministry of Education, said that "the Ministry is putting policies in place to support green education. The Ministry is raising awareness in schools by including sustainability in the curriculum and doing workshops for both students and teachers.”.
According to The Business Year, Kuwait has improved significantly in water treatment. The Umm Al Hayman Plant is a water treatment facility, while the Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment Facility is another major project. It supplies non-potable water for industrial and agricultural use as well as recharging aquifers. With these initiatives, Kuwait is emphasizing its desire to stop wasting water resources so that they can be fully utilized.
In the energy sector, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research website stated that Kuwait built and is working on the Shagaya Concentrated Solar Power Project, which makes up the ambitious master plan to use solar power, wind farms, and photovoltaic plants for generating electricity. Lastly, one of the environmental projects in Kuwait is Sabah Al-Ahmad Sea City. The planting of Grey Mangrove, the Coral Garden, and the Seagrass Meadows are some of the projects directly related to marine life in Kuwait.