The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in cooperation with the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) organized a workshop entitled “Biodiversity, Climate Change and Nature-Based Solution”. under the patronage of Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and SCE’s CEO.
Thirty four decision-makers, technical experts and international negotiators in the field of biodiversity and climate change were invited to take part in the workshop.
Representatives from 16 countries in MENA participated in the workshop to discuss positive and sustainable solutions to climate change, inspired by nature, ahead of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to be held in UAE.
The workshop focused on how to develop cooperation among MENA countries to achieve a mutual agreement or decision related to nature-based solutions that the parties can adopt during their participation in the Climate Summit (COP28).
Minister Dr. Bin Daina said organising this workshop reflected the commitment of Bahrain to reach zero neutrality by 2060and its efforts to adapt and mitigate the negative effects of climate change, based on sustainable development objectives that support Bahrain’s economic vision 2030.
The minister said that MENA countries are highly vulnerable to climate change, and that this workshop is able to highlight the role that these countries can play in addressing the climate crisis proactively by protecting, restoring and effectively managing biodiversity, and will also support them to find ways for collective action to influence international politics in (COP28).
Simon Addison, Climate Change Adviser at the IFAW, commended ongoing cooperation and coordination between the SCE and the IFAW in Bahrain and the interest shown in issues related to international policies, combating wildlife crimes and trafficking in it, preserving marine life, and efforts to save wildlife.
He stressed the need to support the achievements of climate-resilient green economic development, which aims to raise international ambition regarding providing nature-based solutions in (COP28) and beyond.
The workshop includes discussions of establishing a common understanding of the effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity and how to link them to nature, and developing effective nature-based solutions that support green economic development to combat climate change by 2050.
Source: Bahrain News Agency