Monday, December 7, 2009

Bahrain 'facing climate threats'

Rebecca Torr in the Gulf Daily News: Urgent action is needed if Bahrain is to offset the alarming affects of climate change, an environment conference was told yesterday. Bahrain is at higher risk than most countries from threats such as rises in sea levels, Foreign Ministry director of bilateral relations Ambassador Dr Dhafer Alumran told delegates at Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort, Al Areen.

However, he warned efforts to safeguard the country's future could prove futile unless business leaders and members of the public started taking responsibility for their own actions. He issued the stark warning at the opening of the Second Global Environment Conference and Exhibition, which was timed to coincide with the start of the biggest climate talks in history in Copenhagen, Denmark.

World leaders are coming together in Denmark for two weeks of talks aimed at reaching a global consensus on tackling climate change. But Dr Alumran said it was vital that Bahrain took action now and set an example for the rest of the world, rather than waiting for a unanimous international agreement.

He added that environmental protection should be seen as an opportunity, rather than a problem, that could be used to develop the economy. "The time to act is now, particularly given our country's exposure to the effects of climate change," he said….

Bahrain's coat of arms

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