Kuwait launches National Ecological Footprint Initiative

The initiative had been prompted the findings of the report, which revealed that Kuwait had the second highest ecological footprint per capita in the world, after Qatar, with over 6 times the world average. The demand of the Arab region, as a whole, on resources and ecosystems is twice what nature can supply and regenerate.

The workshop was held under the auspices of the Minister of Health and Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment Dr. Mohammed Al-Haifi. In his opening speech, EPA Director General Dr. Salah Al Mudhi pointed out that "Kuwait has to face the challenges of development by a balanced use of resources and the preservation of the environmental assets." Dr. Abdelrahman Al-Awadi, Chairman of AFED's Executive Committee and Executive Director of the Regional Organization for the Protection of Marine Environment (ROPME), said that the report "proves it is impossible to achieve solid development without the conservation of resources and preserving environmental health, because those are the basis of sustainable economic growth." AFED Secretary General Najib Saab highlighted the report's findings, concluding that "bad management of natural resources does not only constitute a threat to the environmental and economical systems, but also threatens the very chances of survival for the Arab countries."

Dr. Mahmoud Youssef, Director of Research at the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS), moderated a session on the contribution of Arab countries to the overall ecological footprint of the world. The panel included Dr. Alessandro Galli, Mediterranean Director at the Global Footprint Network, and AFED's Najib Saab. Another session was moderated by Dr. Jassim Al-Bishara, Director of the training center at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait. Dr. Abdul-Karim Sadik, senior economic consultant at the Kuwait Fund for Development, discussed food security and agricultural sustainability, whereas Dr. Ibrahim Abdel Gelil, Director of the Environment Management Program at Arabian Gulf University discussed current energy production and consumption in the Arab region. Bashar Zeitoon presented a detailed analysis of the demographic shifts in the Arab countries and their impact on the ecological footprint.

Participants agreed on the need to reduce the Arab ecological footprint, most notably by the rationalization of consumption and production patterns, regional cooperation, and supporting scientific research to provide solid base for sustainable development. AFED will continue on its tour to present its report in Bahrain and Qatar, following previous events in Jordan and Lebanon.

A consultation session will be held on 17 May at Oxford University on AFED's new report on energy options in Arab countries, in collaboration with the Oxford Centre for Energy Studies.