GCC-EU discuss enhancing cooperation in economy and climate

Manama, Feb 22 (BNA): The Fourth GCC-EU workshop continued today in Manama with representation from the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, GCC Secretariat, European Union and European Commission. Chaired by the Supreme Council for Environment CEO Dr. Mohammed Mubarak bin Daina, national stakeholders joined discussions and included the First Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) Holding Company and the Economic Development Board. Regional participants also included were Sustainable Energy Unit Bahrain, Saudi Aramco, Masdar UAE, and EU-GCC Clean Energy Network. The talks marked collaborative discussions on regional implementation of the COP21 Paris Agreement, action covered in last month’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, space for clean energy partnerships, utilizing renewable energy for water desalination, research and development in climate change and reflections on shifting from an energy-intensive to a knowledge-based economy. Dr. bin Daina said "In this workshop we will discuss ways in turning these environmental imperatives into major forces in our development." He added "The world has adopted two plans for progress: the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. I wish to emphasize the crucial role that relationships between countries played during those processes. Only by collaboration and understanding, could an agreement be achieved." Head of the EU delegation Ambassador Adam Kulach conveyed a positive message in continuing GCC-EU collaboration. Outcomes of the workshop include an enhanced mechanism to take forward the link between economic diversification and climate change between EU and GCC Secretariat in Riyadh, where the next of the series workshops will culminate in Brussels later this year.