BAHRAIN's commitment to protect the environment will be tested at a key conference to be held next month.
Members of the private sector, the government and the public will present their compliance and commitment to environmental protection at the second Global Environment Conference and Exhibition.
Participants will announce their environmental campaigns and meeting of targets such as reducing air pollution, clean water achievements, preservations of natural resources and other initiatives like recycling and waste management.
The event will be held under the theme Environment Campaign Dynamics - Recognising Compliance, Urgency, Responsibility and Accountability.
It will take place under the patronage of Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro on December 7 and 8, from 8am to 6pm, at the Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort, Al Areen.
A gala dinner will take place ahead of the event on December 3.
The first Global Environment Conference, which was held under the patronage of Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife president Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the Banyan Tree on June 20.
The theme was Environmental Protection, Water and Power Conservation - Critical Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities.
Next month's event calls for urgent compliance and participation from the government, private sector and the society as a whole, said organisers.
The conference and exhibition will provide an opportunity for delegates and participants to raise major environmental issues and to share their expertise. They will also commit to action plans and bringing the objectives closer to results and achievements.
"The first conference was about awareness and now we are looking at compliance, commitment and campaigning," said conference chairwoman Mina Leonora V Lee, who is also event organiser Crystal International Canada chairwoman and president.
"Youth leaders from various universities will be at the conference to raise their questions and to hear the commitment of all the speakers."
The event will feature 14 high profile speakers representing the government, private sector, and the public from Bahrain and across the region.
Arteko managing director for the Middle East Boris Uhlig, who is one of the speakers, said that it was becoming increasingly important on several levels for companies and organisations to fulfil their corporate social responsibility in regard to the environment.
He said customers were starting to take into consideration a company's environmental activities before buying their products.
Mr Uhlig added that in line with international treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol, airline companies and others were also being required to reduce their carbon footprints.
"Bahrain is starting to give more importance to the Kyoto Protocol, they started late but they are catching up quickly," Mr Uhlig told the GDN.
Mr Uhlig said companies, governments and individuals all played a role in protecting the environment, whether it was changing to energy saving light bulbs or offsetting their carbon emissions, everyone needed to make a commitment.
Delegates include international observers and experts who are being invited specifically to witness the country's initiatives and its commitment to environmental concerns and activities. Invited companies, delegates and students will have the chance to interact and confer with environmental experts and colleagues.
They will have the opportunity to express and exchange technological know-how and ideas on the ever increasing environmental crisis, from climate change to global warming, depleting marine resources and rising sea levels.
Meanwhile, the exhibition will provide a platform to highlight companies' initiatives, showcasing projects that have been undertaken, future activities and to display environmental friendly products that focus on environmental protection and conservation.
The event is organised by Crystal International Canada, in collaboration with Crystal Environment Foundation and the support of PJ Investments (HK) Asia. For more information and to register contact Crystal International London conference project manager Katrina Andrews at crystalenvironment@yahoo.com; environmentbahrain@yahoo.com, or 39480409, 39536831.
becky@gdn.com.bh
