KUWAIT: The United Nations and Kuwait on Thursday expressed their joint interest regarding climate change issues and finding solutions for its causes as well as the importance of a collaborative effort at the national, regional and international levels.

Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah

Speaking on the sidelines of a lecture conducted by the UN office in Kuwait during the International Day for Disaster Reduction which was held on Thursday the Oct 13th and which saw the participation of Kuwait's representative at the UN, Dr Tareq Al-Shaikh and Assistant Foreign Minister for International Affairs, consultant Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah as well as the Head of the KFF, Khaled Al-Mekrad and the Head of Kuwait's Society for Environmental Protection, Dr Wejdan Al-Uqab.

Khaled Al- Mekrad at the UN session.

"Kuwait hopes to support the international interest in climate change and share the international society's concern to limit the effects of climate change," Al-Jarallah said. "Kuwait is looking forward to attend the next UN conference regarding climate change in Sharm Al-Shaikh in Nov, as 90 percent of natural disasters have a direct connection with climate change which necessitates doubling of the international efforts to limit its effects and contain it," he added.

"The negative effects to climate change that millions are currently suffering from in different parts of the world leads to the deterioration of the situation faster than the solutions made to protect the environment, and we hope that these conferences will help in making advancements go faster and ensure that the Paris agreement is being met," he added.

Dr Tareq AlShaikh speaks at the session.

Meanwhile, Al-Shaikh said that, "the world needs progress to reduce carbon emissions as disasters will happen because of climate change and human interference, as we have witnessed in the changes that have already taken place in the oceans and in our atmosphere."

"These negative effects affect the whole world as some countries contribute more than others towards emissions," he added. "Changing to alternative energy will directly lower carbon emissions, as 60 percent of countries have strategic plans to implement the change into sustainable energy, with economic revenue reaching around $26 trillion until 2030 which is expected to bring about an addition of 65 million new jobs."

Al-Mekrad said that, "focusing on the root cause of the issue is important in order to reduce these dangers as the UN has initiated in 2016, a 'Sunday seven' campaign, in order to promote seven ways to provide early warnings of the various dangers caused by climate change." He expressed the national committee's support to review procedures to limit the dangers of climate change by increasing awareness across many countries, and to opt for the most suitable procedures to detect early warnings.

Globally, the International Day of Disaster Reduction is annually celebrated on Oct 13th in a bid to limit the disasters caused by climate change by installing early warning systems and preventive procedures. - KUNA