Workshop discusses strategy to stem climate change impact

Muscat, Jan 15 - In an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change, a general framework is being discussed for a ‘marine climate change strategy’. A workshop on ‘Marine climate change strategy in the ROPME area’, which commenced on Tuesday, envisages a work plan for devising a marine climate change strategy. The opening ceremony was held under auspices of Najeeb bin Ali al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MoECA). The workshop saw participation from the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) state members, and local and regional stakeholders. The workshop was organised by MoECA in cooperation with ROPME and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). The three-day workshop aims at making efforts to minimise the adverse impact of marine climate change. In first phase, it will look at discussing and reviewing a work plan, adopting reference lines and a technical assistant team as well as assessing risks of climate change to marine environment. Eng Sulaiman bin Nasser al Akhzami, Director-General of Nature Conservation, in his speech, said climate change leads to some organisms in marine environment losing their habitat, thereby creating an imbalance in the ecological components of marine environment. “The erosion of beaches due to rise in sea levels and change in climatic conditions require preparation of strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The state members of ROPME have been making efforts to preserve the marine environment.” The workshop will discuss preparation of reference lines for the Marine Climate Change Strategy of ROPME, form Strategic Support Task Force of member states, adopt Technical Plan of Action for preparation of strategy, discuss sectors covered by risk strategy and develop plan of action for the strategy over the next 32 months.