Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah: Viewpoint

Viewpoint: Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah

As the representative of the Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, I restate Kuwait’s continuing commitment to regional and international environmental resolutions and initiatives.

The Middle East Green Initiative Summit, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in late 2022, gave Kuwait an opportunity to reaffirm the New Kuwait 2035 vision as a core pillar for economic development while accomplishing our goals for environmental sustainability and honouring international commitments.

Kuwait takes into account all criteria of cooperation with the UN in the implementation of environmental projects, including the Clean Fuels Project, the Al Zour Refinery, sulphur-handling facilities and the fifth liquefied natural gas line.

The third edition of the Middle East Green Initiative Summit represents a turning point for climate action in the Middle East as a springboard for regional cooperation in the fight against the impacts of climate change. It is also a proof of the willingness of the region’s countries to comply with the Paris Agreement and attain their Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, fulfilling targets at both the regional and international level by having a uniform vision.

Kuwait will continue to enthusiastically implement promising projects through this initiative, with the aim of expanding green areas through afforestation, natural reserves and ecotourism, thus contributing to carbon neutrality by the middle of this century. This will create significant investment and economic opportunities for generations to come while providing for a more sustainable and greener future.

The first session of the 17th legislative term of the National Assembly opens a new era for the country. It sets the guidelines for both the political leadership and citizens regarding opportunities in the next stage of our development. All citizens are partners in shouldering responsibilities and driving the process of development and reform. I express my gratitude for the efforts undertaken to hold parliamentary elections in September 2022 without any flaws, and I applaud our citizens for their sound choice of representatives. However, we must remain cautious, as there must be follow-up and accountability, and I call on citizens to judge the members of Parliament if they deviate in words or action from the sound democratic path. I urge members of the Parliament to refrain from non-constructive rhetoric toward the laws that concern the interests of the homeland, its citizens and security. Ultimately, I hope that the practice of democracy remains free of any blemish so that the representatives will not risk losing the all-important confidence of the people.

Similarly, I urge members of Parliament and of the executive authority to understand citizens’ needs and seek to meet their demands through serious action. A new strategy is needed to achieve rational governance, and I will personally follow up on the government’s performance and bring it to account with respect to the execution of its manifesto.

Lastly, in the regional arena, we are leaving the worst part of the Covid-19 pandemic behind, but it is no secret that the GCC and the Middle East are still going through extraordinary circumstances related to security, economic and environmental challenges. These challenges require us to coordinate and cooperate more among ourselves to understand them, confront them and emerge stronger. We have clear concepts and visions in place to achieve our aims and to strengthen security and stability in this critical region of the world. We affirm our principal position in line with international law, which is based on the sovereignty of states, territorial integrity, political stability and non-interference in internal affairs.

I express the aspirations of Kuwait as it looks to the future. While the country is small in geography, it is large in its ambitions and hopes, driven by its people in the pursuit of peace, cooperation and prosperity.