Latest news with #RegionalOrganizationfortheProtectionoftheMarineEnvironment
Kuwait Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait launches environmental bootcamp for high school students
Blue Pioneer camp gives students lessons in marine life, mapping, environmental protection KUWAIT: A new summer camp launched in Kuwait aims to raise environmental awareness among high school students across the region through a packed schedule of hands-on learning, field visits, and interactive workshops. The Blue Pioneer camp, organized by the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), brings together young participants and a range of local institutions, including the Environment Public Authority (EPA), Kuwait University, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and the Kuwait Coast Guard. The initiative aimed at educating high school students on key environmental challenges and laws in Kuwait. 'The camp is designed to raise awareness and educate secondary school students about environmental issues,' said Sheikha Al-Ibrahim, Director of Public Relations and Media at the EPA, in a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Organized in collaboration with the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), the EPA's participation reflects its ongoing efforts to empower youth and promote their role in environmental protection. 'This collaboration stems from our belief in the importance of empowering young people and strengthening their role in preserving the environment,' Al-Ibrahim said. 'It's part of our continuous efforts to boost environmental cooperation and help build a generation that's aware of environmental issues.' Hands-on training As part of the program, the EPA will host hands-on field activities at its headquarters over the next two days. Students will explore Kuwait's biodiversity and learn how the country's environmental laws are enforced. 'The activities also include an introduction to the role of judicial officers in enforcing the Environmental Protection Law, including how violations are recorded and the common types of infractions,' Al-Ibrahim explained. She stressed the importance of familiarizing students with the Environmental Protection Law, saying it helps increase environmental awareness and gives participants the knowledge to apply these principles in real life. Marwa Abul, head of the Capacity Building Unit at ROPME, told KUNA that the camp is designed to 'educate and inspire future environmental leaders from high school students across all member countries.' She said the program combines interactive lectures, field visits, and hands-on training across various institutions and coastal sites. Students will tour EPA laboratories to learn how to collect and analyze water and marine samples using scientific methods. They'll also get hands-on experience with coral farming and fish feeding in aquariums. Other highlights include mapping training with the Coast Guard, workshops at the fish market on identifying healthy fish and collecting samples, and a visit to a fish farming facility in Wafra that introduces aquaponics techniques. Students will also tour the Ahmad Al-Jaber Oil and Gas Exhibition and take part in a marine pollution response workshop. To top it off, the program includes scuba diving sessions and educational film screenings at the Scientific Center's IMAX theater. Abul said the program aims to connect what students learn with real-world environmental challenges and prepare them to apply their knowledge 'in practical life.'— KUNA
Observer
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Oman marks regional Environment Day
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman joined regional efforts in observing Regional Environment Day, which commemorates the 1978 signing of the Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation in the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution. The event, observed annually on April 24, also highlights the establishment of the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) in 1979. All GCC states, along with Iraq and Iran, mark this occasion by reaffirming their commitment to preserving the quality of marine waters, protecting ecosystems and raising awareness of the growing environmental challenges facing the region. These include marine pollution, climate change, carbon emissions and the increasing threat posed by plastic waste. Oman's Environment Authority emphasised the country's proactive stance in implementing environmental policies and projects. One of its key initiatives is the establishment of the Environmental Emergency Centre, which serves as a national hub for rapid response to environmental disasters such as oil spills, red tide occurrences, gas leaks and maritime accidents. The Centre underlines Oman's commitment to sustainability and its regional responsibilities. The Authority also pointed to Law No (14/2001) on Environmental Protection and Pollution Control, which includes 43 articles outlining definitions, responsibilities, penalties and permitting procedures for activities related to the environment. This law strengthens regulatory mechanisms to deter illegal practices that harm wildlife or pollute the marine environment. Regional Environment Day serves as a reminder of the importance of unified action among member states to safeguard marine biodiversity and ensure long-term environmental health for future generations. — ONA
Times of Oman
24-04-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Oman participates in celebrations marking regional Environment Day 2025
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman today took part in celebrations of the Environment Day of the Region, which falls on 24 April every year. The event marks the signing of Kuwait Regional Convention for Co-Operation on the Protection of Marine Environment from Pollution, the Protocol on Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations, signed on 24 April 1978, which led to the establishment of the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) On 1 July 1979. As part of the celebration, GCC states, along with Iraq and Iran (which signed the agreement on Environment Day of the Region) join hands in raising public awareness about the importance of unifying efforts among member states to preserve the quality of water in the ROPME maritime zone, besides protecting ecosystems and aquatic life therein. They also join hands in raising public awareness about the risks and threats of climate change and about means of managing marine resources by cutting down carbon emissions and plastic waste.
