KUWAIT: The Environment Public Authority completed the planting of 1,000 mangrove seedlings on Sunday along the coasts of the Jahra Reserve, in collaboration with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and several members of the diplomatic corps, as part of a five-year project.

Acting EPA Director-General Samira Al-Kandari emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to environmental initiatives and alliances supporting the climate change strategy. She highlighted Kuwait’s forthcoming low-carbon strategy, focusing on leveraging nature to reduce carbon emissions.

Kandari explained that mangrove plants play a crucial role in absorbing large quantities of carbon dioxide. Kuwait initiated mangrove cultivation in 2018 and aims to cultivate 18,000 seedlings by 2035. With the upcoming Conference of the Parties to Climate Change (COP28) in the UAE next month, the authority is actively preparing to present a comprehensive low-carbon strategy, emphasizing projects and future plans aligned with Kuwait’s commitments in the climate change agreement.

Kuwait has submitted national reports, including the first and second national communication, and is currently working on the third. The country is committed to presenting the national adaptation plan and emission reduction projects, such as transitioning to natural gas from fossil fuels and implementing energy efficiency adjustments in collaboration with the ministry of electricity and water. The target for carbon emissions reduction, as set in the 27th climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, is 7.4 percent. Kuwait’s strategy aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Dr Abdullah Al-Zaid, Deputy Director-General for Technical Affairs at EPA, highlighted the event’s significance, initiated by the UAE Ambassador to Kuwait Mattar Al-Neyadi, in anticipation of COP28. Zaid commended the authority’s success in mangrove cultivation since 2018, with contributions from Oman, Bahrain and the UAE. These countries provided Kuwait with mangrove seedlings for re-cultivation and rehabilitation after previous extinction due to incorrect human practices.

Zaid noted that Kuwait has become the first to cultivate and re-cultivate mangrove seeds as a distinct Kuwaiti mangrove. The first generation in the Jahra Reserve is a Gulf generation, while the second generation, cultivated recently, is uniquely Kuwaiti, adapted to local temperatures and environmental conditions. The revival of these plants aligns with international agreements ratified by Kuwait, including the Convention on Climate Change, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and Convention on Biological Diversity.