Sultanate observes Oman Environment Day

Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman celebrated the "Oman Environment Day", which falls on January 8 annually, as part of its commitment to participate in global efforts to preserve environmental resources.

During the past two years, Sultan Qaboos University, represented by the Centre for Environmental Studies and Research, was able to provide innovative financing projects related to ways of adaptation and mitigation of climate change from the United Nations Green Climate Fund.

Prof. Dr. Yassin bin Abdul Rahman Al Sharabi, Director of the Centre said: “Sultan Qaboos University has contributed, for more than three decades, to providing innovative knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of sustainable development in society, and to increasing public awareness of the importance of nature conservation, and providing the scientific basis for decision-making. Informed to preserve the components of the Omani environment."

On the most important research projects carried out by the Centre over the past years and the role of this research at the university and community levels, Al-Sharabi stated: “The Center for Environmental Studies and Research has attracted, during the period from 2017-2021, many consultancies funded by international and national institutions, most notably: The Preparedness Project Climate change funded by the United Nations Green Climate Fund, the Interactive Environmental Atlas and Oman Bird Database project funded by the Diwan of Royal Court, the Urban Development and Comprehensive Transport Plan project funded by the former Supreme Council for Planning, and the National Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy Project: 2020 - 2040 funded From the Civil Aviation Authority, and the research chair of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates - Madayn.”

Prof. Al-Sharabi touched on future plans and the projects that received approvals from the Green Climate Fund. The first project relates to preparing a national adaptation plan to counter the negative effects of climate change. This project aims to enhance the implementation of adaptation components in the National Strategy for Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change 2020-2040. By integrating adaptation into Oman’s development planning, creating low-carbon and climate-resilient priorities, projects and transition pathways, the National Adaptation Plan will also build a national system for developing climate projects that will help Oman mobilize domestic funds (public and private) access to climate finance from international funds; To implement flexible and climate-resistant tracks.

He indicated that the second project is to prepare a strategy for the development of sustainable and low-carbon transportation in the Sultanate of Oman. The complex characteristics and interrelationships of the transport sectors in the Sultanate with the rest of the economic sectors need a paradigm shift and an innovative strategy to achieve higher outcomes and impacts for sustainable and low-carbon transport.

The Sultanate of Oman’s goal through the implementation of this project is to develop a national strategy that lays down the structure and action plans with practical policies to ensure a smooth transition to sustainable and carbon-free transport, and the sustainable and low-carbon transport strategy to be developed with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and funded by the Green Climate Fund is an element Critical to the government’s efforts to address energy efficiency, and its conservation as defined in the Sultanate’s National Program with the Green Climate Fund and Oman 2040 Vision