Oil and Environment Minister attends ministerial meeting on ending plastic pollution in Geneva
Geneva, Aug. 15 (BNA): Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, attended the ministerial meeting of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
The meeting was held in Geneva under the theme “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an International Legally Binding Instrument”, with the participation of the Kingdom’s Consul General to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Shaikh Abdullah Abdul Latif Abdullah.
Hosted by Switzerland from August 5 to 14, the session brought together countries, organisations, and environmental bodies to advance negotiations towards a global agreement to address plastic pollution. Discussions covered integrating human rights considerations into global efforts to tackle the environmental and health impacts of plastics, ensuring a just transition to a circular plastics economy, and reducing plastic pollution and its effects, in line with the UN Environment Programme.
On the sidelines, Dr. bin Daina met delegations from countries participating in the INC under the presidency of Saudi Arabia, reiterating Bahrain’s support for the unified position of GCC and Arab states on the matter.
He also met Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, to discuss cooperation between Bahrain and the UN office in disaster risk reduction, expertise exchange, and the development of regional and international initiatives to enhance resilience to environmental and climate challenges. The meeting also reviewed the links between the anticipated international plastic pollution agreement and the office’s objectives, as well as means to integrate global environmental efforts into disaster risk reduction strategies to support sustainable development and protect ecosystems.
