GCC States: Solutions to Climate Change Enhanced by Collective Action

Geneva, July 2 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States have underlined their firm position on climate change as a priority issue due to its overlapping negative effects on the security and safety of humanity, pointing out that solutions to the issue of climate change are greatly enhanced by collective action based on constructive cooperation and achieving interests and common goals. This came in a statement delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al-Muftah, on behalf of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) States, in her capacity as Chair of the Gulf Group, during the "Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Special Rapporteur on Climate," within the framework of the 56th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The GCC States explained that they had participated positively in all international and regional initiatives to address climate change, most notably the Climate Conference, which they consider to be an essential and exclusive reference for addressing all the precise aspects related to climate change and the responsibilities of countries responsible for it. Regarding the references included in the report of the Special Rapporteur on climate regarding abandoning fossil fuels, the GCC States stressed that the Human Rights Council is not the appropriate place to discuss the future of global energy and that any proposal that addresses climate change must take place within the framework of the Framework Climate Agreement and the Paris Agreement. The GCC States expressed their pride in their initiatives in the field of combating climate change, such as the Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives, the Environmental Pioneers Initiative in the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates hosting of the last climate summit (COP28) at the end of 2023, stressing that this proves the commitment of the GCC State. It is firmly established in all efforts that would enhance the response to climate change, which, from the perspective of the GCC States, is based on three equally important pillars: ensuring energy security, economic prosperity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Source: Qatar News Agency