The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development plays a crucial role in environmental preservation through its focus on clean energy projects. Recognising the global shift toward sustainability and the urgency of addressing climate change, the Fund has made the environment a top priority.
Climate change poses significant challenges to the international community, threatening the environment and food security, public health, and economic stability. The impacts range from shifting weather patterns and rising sea levels to catastrophic floods and ecosystem destruction. To mitigate these risks, collective efforts are needed to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations for 2030 to improve life on Earth.
One of the key environmental initiatives supported by the Kuwait Fund is the adaptation and resilience project to combat cross-border sand and dust storms. In collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the State of Kuwait, this project received a grant of 4 million Kuwaiti dinars (approximately $12.8 million). Its goal is to reduce the frequency of sand and dust storms originating in southern Iraq, which affect Kuwait and other countries in the region. By addressing the root causes of these storms, the project seeks to create a safer, cleaner environment for present and future generations.
Kuwait Fund Operations Engineer Abdulaziz Al-Sumait emphasised the significance of this initiative, describing it as the first of its kind. He highlighted Kuwait as the primary beneficiary, noting the health and economic toll these storms take on the country.
The storms contribute to respiratory illnesses due to harmful dust particles and disrupt vital sectors like oil production and power generation. Al-Sumait expressed optimism that the project will improve living conditions both in Kuwait and across the region.
Amira Al-Hassan, Director of UN-Habitat in Kuwait, noted that the project represents unprecedented regional cooperation and underscores the global importance of tackling climate change. It specifically addresses the economic and health challenges posed by environmental degradation in urban and coastal areas.
The project, fully funded by the Kuwait Fund, will be implemented in Kuwait and southern Iraq, focusing on reducing the amount of dust entering Kuwait by stabilizing the soil in the Iraqi provinces of Dhi Qar and Muthanna. These provinces, located about 250 kilometres north of the Kuwaiti border, are major sources of sandstorms that impact Kuwait. The initiative aims to reduce over 40% of dust crossing into Kuwait, offering substantial relief to affected communities.
A recent study on sand and dust storms in Kuwait, as well as neighbouring Bahrain and Qatar, identified eight major wind paths that carry dust into the region, contributing to significant health, environmental, and economic damage. The annual economic losses are estimated at around 190 million Kuwaiti dinars (approximately $618 million).
