Deputy Chairman of NHRC Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari during a press meet, yesterday. PIC: RAJAN VADAKKEMURIYIL
Climate change is a big problem in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and the upcoming International Conference on Climate Change and Human Rights will deliberate and present recommendations to policymakers to mitigate and adapt to the changing environment and protect human rights, Deputy Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari has said.
Speaking to The Peninsula after a press conference yesterday to announce the International Conference on Climate Change and Human Rights, which will be held in Doha on February 21-22, Dr. Al Kuwari stressed that the Middle East faces a huge climate challenge and is in a race against time.
“We have a big problem with climate change in the Middle East and the Gulf, especially because of floods, high temperatures, and rising sea levels. So now in the conference, we need to discuss with experts and scientists about the best solution to avoid these problems,” Dr. Al Kuwari.
The Middle East is already the world’s most water-stressed region, and climate change threatens to displace millions of people due to low rainfall, intense heat waves, and worsening drought. According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), roughly 90% of refugees come from the most vulnerable and the least ready countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
“We cannot live as humans in the air or on lands without housing, education, help, or health. It’s imperative to mitigate these climate change effects. So now we invited many people with experience in climate change and human rights to discuss and exchange data and information. We hope to have good recommendations and take them to the higher authority. We have no time; now we have reached the red areas,” Dr. Al Kuwari underlined.
He added that the notion that the Gulf is rich does not exempt it from the climate reality. Dr. Al Kuwari said climate change also affects buildings, and the conference hopes to inspire revolutionary solutions to make infrastructure sustainable.
“This is a rich region, okay, but now we suffer from high temperature. Some countries have already hit temperatures up to 55 degrees, maybe more. So what do you do? It is now a big problem with the lands; it affects agriculture, growing plants and many things.”
Meanwhile, the international conference will be held in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Development Program, the League of Arab States, and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).
While addressing the media, Dr. Al Kuwari disclosed that over 300 representatives of countries, international organisations, think tanks, universities, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations and experts will participate in the conference.
According to him, the conference will emphasise the importance of rights-based climate action and highlight promising practices relevant to Qatar and other stakeholders committed to meeting climate change targets.
The event also aims to develop recommendations to enhance cooperation to support rights-based climate action worldwide – with the Middle East and North Africa region as its focal point.
He also called on governments to adopt human rights laws, principles and standards as the bedrock of their efforts to mitigate climate change effects.
