Bahrain's environmental safety, sustainability efforts highlighted

Manama, Feb. 3 (BNA): His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), expressed pride in the efforts being exerted to protect the Kingdom of Bahrain’s environment and sustainable development in line with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa endorsed in the National Action Charter and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. The SCE efforts are in harmony with with His Majesty’s reforms project and the Government Action Plan spearheaded by His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. HH Shaikh Abdullah in a statement on the occasion of National Day for Environment which coincides with February 4, stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to address environmental challenges to achieve a safer and more sustainable environment for citizens and residents, and boost Bahrain’s regional and international position. His Highness pointed out that the Supreme Council for Environment chose the slogan for this year entitled "Let’s protect our environment from plastic" which comes emanating from the Council’s keenness to prevent the hazards of plastic substances on land and sea ecology and its damage to wildlife and natural resources. The council has always called to curb the use of plastic materials to ward off their destructive impact in Bahrain. HH Shaikh Abdullah said the duty of reducing the use of plastic materials in any country rests on the partnership and collective efforts of everyone. Therefore, the council over the previous years engaged government and private organisations and the civic society in combating plastic waste and lessening the use of disposable or non-recyclable plastic products. The SCE encourages the concerned stakeholders to take all the appropriate measures to cut down the consumption of plastic that inflicts numerous negative impacts on the environmental and ecological systems. The Kingdom of Bahrain began practical steps to curb the oceanic pollution of plastic materials through enactment of legislations. The Cabinet (i.e. the Council of Ministers) endorsed the issuance of a ministerial resolution banning the importation of plastic waste. Another ministerial resolution was passed to regulate the circulation of plastic materials that meet rigorous specifications and standards as in advanced countries and banning the circulation of non-biodegradable plastic products, His Highness added. His Highness explained that the Kingdom of Bahrain is in the process of regulating the use of plastic products in the local market soon in order to reduce the production of plastic waste through controlling its consumption and developing the standard of plastic products used in eco-friendly manner in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. He said that the progress achieved in this regard was the fruition of the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister through the Executive Committee, and the resolution issued from the Ministerial Committee on Construction and Infrastructure.