GCC ministers responsible for climate and environment affairs reached a consensus on the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, during their 25th meeting in the Sultanate of Oman.
The consensus includes a unified position of the GCC and an annex to the mechanisms for ratifying the Kigali Amendments. The Kigali Amendment will help curb up to 0.4°C of global warming in this century while continuing to protect the ozone layer.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a statement expressing its profound appreciation for the unanimous consensus reached by GCC member states to advance the ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
This declaration was made during the participation of Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, at the GCC Committee meeting. In addition, Minister Almheiri extended a cordial invitation to all ministers and officials to attend the forthcoming COP28 Conference to be hosted by the UAE.
The meeting’s agenda was wide-ranging and included in-depth discussions on several pivotal themes, encompassing an assessment of the environmental landscape and trends within GCC countries, deliberations on non-tariff environmental restrictions, and strategies for COP28.
Additionally, topics of international cooperation pertaining to plastic pollution and wildlife conservation were extensively debated, reflecting the steadfast commitment of GCC nations to the cause of environmental sustainability.
The resolutions adopted during the meeting serve as a collective roadmap for GCC countries. These resolutions include the establishment of specialized committees to oversee the implementation of environmental guidelines, robust support for the Middle East Green Initiative, collaborative efforts with the General Secretariat to promote climate change initiatives at COP28, hosting of national-level environmental events, regular meetings with environmental experts and media representatives, unified positions on plastic pollution and substances depleting the ozone layer, a unified Gulf stance on Kigali Amendments to the Montreal Protocol, and unanimous GCC consensus on ratifying the Kigali Amendment.
Furthermore, there is a commitment to participation in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and support for Oman’s conservation efforts regarding the frankincense tree. The resolutions also include support for the GCC Pavilion at the Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha, an invitation to the Arab Environmental Forum in Muscat, agreement on a Gulf Environmental Index, and support for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in 2024.
These resolutions collectively demonstrate the dedication of GCC nations to environmental preservation and international cooperation in addressing pressing environmental challenges, laying the foundation for a sustainable future in the region.