KUWAIT: Acting Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Nouf Behbehani has reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm commitment to protecting the ozone layer and advancing its national vision for sustainable development, highlighting the country’s role as a pioneering model in global environmental efforts.
Behbehani spoke during a celebration organized by the EPA in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. She noted that this year’s observance, held under the theme “From Scientific Knowledge to Global Action,” underscores the role of science in identifying threats to the ozone layer and the importance of international cooperation in ensuring a safe environment for future generations.
She highlighted the Montreal Protocol of 1987 as a landmark in environmental history, with over 190 countries, including Kuwait, ratifying the treaty to phase out ozone-depleting substances. Kuwait ratified the protocol in 1992 and has since implemented pioneering policies, establishing a specialized national unit to oversee compliance and gradually eliminate harmful substances, reaffirming its active role in global environmental protection.
Acting Director General of the Environment Public Authority, Nouf Behbehani
KUWAIT: Participants gather during the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.- KUNA photos
UNDP Resident Representative in Kuwait Emma Morley
Behbehani also noted Kuwait’s ratification of the Kigali Amendment in November 2024, marking a new phase in reducing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. She said the EPA has prepared a comprehensive national plan, backed by advanced legislation and clean technological solutions, in coordination with Montreal Protocol implementing agencies and the Multilateral Fund, ensuring Kuwait remains a leader in creating a sustainable environmental future. For her part, UNDP Resident Representative Emma Morley highlighted a new environmental cooperation agreement signed with the EPA last November, describing it as a strategic milestone in Kuwait’s transition under the Kigali Amendment.
The agreement provides a roadmap to reduce hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), promote energy-efficient cooling technologies, and strengthen regulatory frameworks supporting sustainable cooling. Morley praised Kuwait’s achievements, noting a nearly 65 percent reduction in ozone-depleting substance consumption compared to baseline levels. She said the agreement underscores Kuwait’s leadership in protecting the ozone layer, combating climate change, and setting a regional standard in sustainable environmental practices.
She emphasized that the Kigali Amendment remains one of the most effective international strategies for addressing climate change, contributing to environmental protection, energy efficiency, sustainable economic development and improved public health. The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is observed annually on September 16, commemorating the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987. — KUNA
