TEHRAN: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Environment Authority, participated in the environmental cooperation meeting on the topic 'For a better future', which was held on Tuesday in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Omani delegation was headed by Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, in the presence of representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
This meeting aimed to enhance regional cooperation and face environmental challenges that affect the region, as the Sultanate of Oman, along with the participating countries, stressed the importance of cooperation and coordination in the region and the need to chart out bilateral and multilateral action plans and follow-up on the outcome of the meeting.
The participants also stressed the need for coordinated and timely measures to protect the natural environment of the region and the need for cooperation in the field of environment as a shared responsibility. Global warming, climate change, loss of biodiversity and environmental pollution, especially sand and dust storms, are among the challenges. The meeting also discussed the most pressing environmental concerns in the region as well as the role of public and the youth and the NGOs in achieving a healthy environment.
Along with the participating countries, Oman stressed the need to combat desertification in countries that suffer from drought and desertification, and also urged the UN bodies to deal with sand and dust storms.
The meeting discussed the need for an effective cooperation framework and the exchange of experiences among the countries of the region on their programmes and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to monitor the economic, social and environmental impacts of climate change.
The participating countries expressed their concern about chemical pollution and waste dumping as they pose a major threat to the livelihood of citizens, and stressed the need for a coordinated and integrated approach to managing air, water and soil pollution. -- ONA
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