Kuwait appeals to world to do more to stem climatic change

The State of Kuwait has appealed to the international community to exert more efforts to limit effects of climatic change by mapping out national serious strategies to "face such global challenge." The call was made by Abdul Mohsen Al-Fares, the third secretary of the Kuwaiti permanent mission at the UN and member of the Kuwaiti delegation that took part in meetings of the UN General Assembly-affiliated economic commission, during its 67th session. The meeting was scheduled for debating sustainable development on a global scale. Al-Fares called for improving utilization of -- and diversifying -- energy resources, exchanging low-emission technology and encouraging employment of alternative energy. He also expressed good wishes for the convention of signatory states of the UN convention on climatic change, due in Doha, with regard of constraining climatic alteration. Shedding some light on national efforts in this respect, the diplomat said the State of Kuwait, out of its keenness on protecting the environment, had launched the "Fuels CFF Clean" project, aimed at upgrading Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries to produce environmentally friendly fuels. Moreover, Kuwait will ogranize, on November 20-22, a regional convention for coping with dust storms. Experts from GCC states and other countries will take part in the gathering. Negative effects of the climate leave damaging results in all countries of the world. They also constitute a main obstacle in face of developing countries in their efforts to attain sustainable development. Furthermore, these repercussions threaten the very existence of island countries and communities. He also affirmed Kuwait's continuing policy of aiding the developing nations for accomplishing sustainable development, noting that the Gulf state has spent approximately USD 15 billion for aiding projects in these countries. In this vein, HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, had pioneered establishment of a special USD two billion fund for encouraging small and medium enterprises -- Kuwait contributing with USD 500 million. Also at the national level, the State has adopted a 2010-2014 development strategy, estimated at USD 100 billion, with the aim of hauling the country's various sectors, infrastructure, upgrading skills of national manpower and diversifying resources of income