Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Dainah, Oil and Environment Minister and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, opened a workshop on the outcomes of the Climate Resilience Project for Bahrain’s Water Sector.
The project is supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Supreme Council for Environment Chief Executive Officer, as well as representatives of government entities, the private sector, academic institutions and organisations concerned with the water sector, were present.
The Minister affirmed that the Climate Resilience Project for Bahrain’s Water Sector represents a leading national initiative in the water sector, providing an integrated scientific and technical foundation to support planning and decision-making, strengthen water security and improve the efficiency of water resource management, in line with national priorities for sustainable development and climate change adaptation.
Dr. Bin Dainah said the workshop marks the culmination of the project’s efforts to enhance the resilience of Bahrain’s water sector to the impacts of climate change, support the implementation of the objectives of the National Water Strategy 2021 – 2030, and promote the principles of integrated water resources management.
He commended the pivotal role played by the Water Resources Council throughout the various stages of the project, through its active contribution to guiding the project’s work, developing its outcomes and supporting the implementation of its activities, helping ensure that the results align with national priorities and the Kingdom’s water resource management requirements.
The workshop reviewed technical and strategic outcomes developed under the project, including guidelines and technical designs for greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting, as well as guidelines and practices for water conservation in homes and farms, and the findings of water audits conducted in the industrial and agricultural sectors.
It also reviewed the findings of advanced studies and models, including a hydrological groundwater model to support the sustainable management of groundwater reserves, a study on the potential impacts of climate change and sea-level rise on coastal areas, and a gender mainstreaming policy for the water sector.
The workshop provided an opportunity for participating entities, experts and specialists to discuss mechanisms for benefiting from the project’s outcomes and implementing its recommendations, in support of national efforts to achieve sustainable water resource management in the Kingdom of Bahrain.