BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 20. Bahrain is committed to climate action despite its minimal contribution to global emissions, said the country’s Minister of Oil and Environment Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina as he delivered his national statement at the COP29 summit, TurkicWorld reports.
"As a low-lying island, Bahrain contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet we choose to lead by example," Bin Daina stated, underscoring the urgency for global collaboration.
Under the guidance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain has set progressive goals to combat climate change. These include an ambitious commitment to reduce emissions by 2035 and achieve net zero by 2060. To support this, the Kingdom has developed a national energy strategy uniting private and public stakeholders to ensure success.
Highlighting Bahrain’s focus on ecological restoration, Bin Daina announced bold targets to double the nation’s tree coverage and quadruple its mangrove coverage. Additionally, Bahrain has crafted a comprehensive coastal resilience strategy to protect its 946 kilometers of coastline from climate impacts.
Acknowledging the global challenges in mobilizing adaptation finance, Bin Daina unveiled Bahrain’s national adaptation investment plan. This initiative outlines innovative financing options to bring Bahrain’s climate vision to life.
"We are doing our role," he said, emphasizing Bahrain’s readiness to share its insights and expertise with the global community. However, he called for renewed international cooperation, urging developed nations to provide enablers such as finance, technology, and capacity building for developing countries.
"Let us restore faith in multilateralism. Climate change is a global challenge that requires a global solution. The urgency we face empowers us to deliver," Bin Daina asserted, reminding delegates of the foundations laid in the Paris Agreement.
