Former Kuwaiti MP calls in Antalya for Gulf environmental council

Former Kuwaiti lawmaker Alia Al-Khaled called for establishing a high-level environmental council within the Gulf Cooperation Council during a session organized by the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications in Antalya on the sidelines of COP31, with lawmakers from Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf participating.

Former Kuwaiti National Assembly lawmaker Alia Al-Khaled called for establishing a high-level environmental council within the Gulf Cooperation Council to coordinate environmental policies among its member states during a panel discussion organized by the Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications in Antalya on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).

The session, titled “A Road Map for Parliaments: How Can Global Climate Commitments Be Implemented at the National Level?”, was held on November 10 and brought together lawmakers from Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf. It was moderated by Jordon Morgan, director of the Forward Thinking Foundation.

Al-Khaled addressed the shared challenges facing Gulf Cooperation Council states in confronting climate change, pointing to rising energy consumption, growing demand for cooling and seawater desalination, as well as the impact of car-dependent urban expansion on increasing emissions. She said energy efficiency, the transition to renewable sources, carbon pricing and sustainable urban planning were priority areas, stressing the importance of regional cooperation in setting common standards and monitoring their implementation.

جانب من جلسة «خارطة طريق للبرلمانات» التي نظمتها دائرة الاتصال التركية في أنطاليا

Egyptian lawmaker Dr. Ahmed Fayed said political consensus was no less important than legislation in confronting climate change. He explained that they had prepared three separate bills concerning carbon governance, carbon-footprint measurement and expanding green spaces, adding that submitting them separately was intended to facilitate consensus among parties and lawmakers. He said Egypt, despite accounting for less than 1 percent of global emissions, was holding itself to high standards in order to serve as a model in the region.

Turkish lawmaker Tuba Durgut of the Justice and Development Party spoke about rising temperatures, drought and water scarcity in the Mediterranean basin. She pointed to Türkiye’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2053 and the climate law enacted in 2025. Meanwhile, Sven Clement, a Luxembourgish parliamentarian and chair of the parliamentary network of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, stressed the need to support international commitments with national legislation, adequate financing and effective oversight mechanisms.

Türkiye is hosting COP31 in Antalya through November 20.

Former Kuwaiti MP calls in Antalya for Gulf environmental council