Latest news with #SDGs
Business Recorder
3 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Cabinet approves Green Building, Rainwater Harvesting Codes
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet approved the Green Building Code of Pakistan and the Rainwater Harvesting Provisions for Building Code of Pakistan for protecting the environment and the climate. This was stated by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Science and Technology, who further stated that these new national standards will ensure green, energy-efficient and water-conserving buildings. Minister Khalid Hussain Magsi, Ministry of Science and Technology, Secretary Sajid Baloch spearheaded the development of these codes, under the prime minister's vision, through extensive consultations with provinces, federal ministries and other relevant stakeholders and developed consensus. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's vision for environmental preservation, cleaner air for citizens and energy efficiency is the main force behind this development, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Green Building Code applies to all new buildings, with four plus floors, emphasising energy conservation, solar design, green roofs, energy efficient lighting, and integration of renewable energy sources etc. It mandates the use of eco-friendly materials and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for efficient building management, significantly reducing energy consumption and enhancing indoor environmental quality. The Rainwater Harvesting Code applies to residential, commercial and industrial buildings, mandating systems to collect, filter, and reuse rainwater. This initiative aims to address Pakistan's escalating water scarcity by promoting groundwater recharge and reducing dependency on municipal water supplies. The codes have been approved as Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Bye-Laws and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These codes mark a pivotal move toward sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure actions will be greatly beneficial for a greener, energy efficient and more climate-resilient Pakistan, improving better quality of life for Pakistanis citizens as well as the planet. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The Star
an hour ago
- General
- The Star
Building coastal resilience with nature-based solutions
THE marine and coastal areas of Malaysia, which are home to diverse ecosystems — from coral reefs to mangrove forests — are currently under threat due to climate change. Rising sea levels, changing temperatures and increased storm intensity reinforce the importance of building coastal resilience to ensure that coastal ecosystems, particularly mangrove wetlands and the communities they support continue to thrive. 'Coastal resilience is the ability of coastal systems, encompassing the environment, infrastructures and communities, to participate, absorb, recover from and adapt to adverse events such as coastal erosion, storm surges and sea level rises. 'It's not just about withstanding disasters, but also about bouncing back stronger,' says Dr Teh Hee Min, senior lecturer at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). 'From a community's perspective, coastal resilience is vital because it safeguards lives, homes and heritage. 'Many of these communities depend on coastal resources for their daily survival, cultural identity and economic resilience,' he says, adding that a robust coastline is also key to protecting critical infrastructures like ports, fisheries and tourism assets. He points out that floods and erosion on coastal areas especially can have a long-term ripple effect on local and even national economies. 'These ecosystems are natural buffers against extreme events and contribute to carbon sequestration and biodiversity. 'So, in essence, coastal resilience is about securing a future where human development and natural systems coexist and support one another,' he emphasises. At UTP, coastal resilience projects led by Teh focus on integrating innovative engineering technologies with ecological awareness and community empowerment. The Tanjung Kepah Mangrove Action Project in Perak, for example, exemplifies UTP's research and consultancy ethos of leveraging the university's cutting-edge research and multidisciplinary expertise to address pressing sustainability challenges. The project solutions directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land), aiding in the country achieving its sustainability targets. The project, led by UTP and Wetlands International, is a collaboration with the Irrigation and Drainage Department, Manjung, National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (Nahrim), Parak Forestry Department, Solmax and Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Lekir. The project site at Tanjung Kepah, as its name suggests, was once a prolific mud clam (kepah) production site, but over the years, yields have dropped because of the loss of mangrove forests, which served as barriers against storm surges. Furthermore, replanting efforts over the years also failed because the tender saplings did not stand a chance against the strong sea waves. At its heart, the project is a coastal defence system composed of an offshore 25-metre bamboo wave screen, the first of its kind in Malaysia. Completed in November 2024, the screen has received thumbs-up from various stakeholders. Recently planted mangrove saplings – now sheltered from waves – are seeing a survivability rate of 70%, a remarkable feat as mangrove planting in the open sea garnering a 30% survivability rate is usually considered marvellous, says Teh. He points out that because this is a nature-based solution, the lifespan of the bamboo screen is about three years, by which time the mangrove forest should have grown enough to play its role as a natural defence against storms and strong waves. A 25-meter bamboo wave screen was constructed at Tanjung Kepah to protect newly planted mangrove saplings and reduce wave impact on the hinterland. What's more, the remains of the bamboo structure will also serve as nurseries or dwellings for marine life. Buoyed by the success of the first phase of this project, the plan is to construct another screen, this time further afield in the open sea. Installation of the 30-metre screen is expected to commence in August. Apart from the sites in Perak, UTP's project partner Wetlands International also plans to deploy this technology at a site in Sungai Haji Dorani in Selangor. 'This project at Tanjung Kepah is built around three key pillars, namely, nature-based coastal restoration, multi-stakeholder partnership and community engagement and empowerment,' says Teh, adding that the bamboo used is sourced via a collaboration with SEAD Build, a proponent of sustainable bamboo agroforestry in Malaysia. Apart from the project at Tanjung Kepah, UTP previously undertook another coastal resilience project at Teluk Nipah in Pulau Pangkor, which stemmed from a UTP study revealing that the sandy beach was eroding at a rate of up to three metres a year due to continuous degradation of the shoreline by waves. To gauge the awareness level of the coastal problems in Teluk Nipah among the local community, UTP organised two community engagement sessions in August 2019 and January 2022. The town hall sessions enabled communities in Teluk Nipah and Pulau Pangkor to share their concerns and pain points on coastal problems with local authorities and the need for erosion control measures. Teh, who led the project, explains that UTP designed a 50-metre rock revetment at the beach in Teluk Nipah, which was constructed at the end of 2020. The university also proposed to the authorities a soft approach to mitigate erosion and replenish the existing shoreline through beach nourishment. Final year UTP Civil Engineering students enrolled in the elective course Design of Coastal Structures conducting field measurements of alongshore sediment transport along the shoreline of Teluk Nipah. Nurturing innovation For Teh, being part of the UTP ecosystem has been instrumental in the success of the projects at Tanjung Kepah and Teluk Nipah. 'Here, interdisciplinary knowledge sharing, access to cutting-edge research facilities and institutional support come together to nurture innovation,' he says. He adds that the research also benefited greatly from being part of UTP's Water-Energy-Environment Nexus, which brings together experts in hydrology, botany, environmental engineering and social sciences. 'This allowed for more holistic project planning. UTP's strong emphasis on industry and community engagement also opened doors for funding and collaborations, which enabled us to involve the local communities in Tanjung Kepah and train them in the monitoring and maintenance of the bamboo wave screen.' Beyond research projects, these were real-world initiatives that empowered communities directly impacted by coastal erosion, he adds. 'Building coastal resilience isn't just an engineering challenge, it's a human one. The shoreline is where science meets society. 'The greatest success comes from when we design with the people and nature in mind. Interventions when rooted in local knowledge supported by research and powered by collaborations, can create meaningful, lasting impact. 'More than stopping erosion, it's about restoring dignity to coastal communities and preserving the ecosystem for future generations,' Teh concludes. For more information and enquiries on coastal resilience, email programmeoffice@
Qatar Tribune
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
‘Starvation of Gaza children to death is disgrace to humanity'
He also pointed out that the responsibility of parliaments requires a clear stance on the wars and tragedies the world is witnessing, especially famine and the deliberate targeting of women and children in Gaza, saying in this regard that the death of children from hunger is a disgrace on the forehead of the international community and humanity, and let parliamentarians around the world have a word of truth in stopping the crimes and killings in Gaza. On the sidelines of the conference, Al Ghanim met with Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in Iran Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, where parliamentary cooperation relations and ways to enhance them in various fields were discussed between the Shura Council and its Iranian counterpart, along with exchanging views on key issues on the conference agenda. Earlier on Wednesday, the Shura Council speaker participated in a briefing session for Speakers of Parliament on the United Nations reform initiative, which included a comprehensive presentation of the initiative's goals aiming to make the United Nations more just, effective, and responsive to escalating global challenges. During the session, views were also exchanged among parliament speakers on the importance of enhancing transparency and inclusiveness within the UN system and the role of legislative institutions in supporting reform paths that contribute to achieving international peace and security and sustainable development. In the same context, members of the Shura Council participated in discussion panels at the conference, including one titled: 'Fast-forwarding the SDGs through Parliamentary Action,' and another titled 'The Role of Parliaments in Shaping Our Digital Future.'
Al Etihad
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Etihad
Communication-based diplomacy key to achieving global peace and security, UAE tells IPU-UN conference
30 July 2025 22:00 GENEVA (WAM)Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee in the UAE Federal National Council (FNC), chaired a panel discussion on innovating for peace, achieving the SDGs by 2030, and parliaments' role in shaping the digital future as part of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of the session, Al Nuaimi emphasised that building bridges of trust, communication, and dialogue between countries and societies is a fundamental pillar for achieving human solidarity and international peace and called for adopting innovative approaches based on dialogue and partnership to address contemporary challenges, emphasising that diplomacy based on human communication is a key to achieving security and peace throughout the also stressed the need to strengthen channels of cultural communication, and invest in shared human values to build a more stable and tolerant future, thus contributing to expanding horizons and opportunities for sustainable development and long-term prosperity for the world's Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in close collaboration with the United Nations is hosting the conference from July 29 -31, 2025 at the Palais des Nations, United Nations Office at Geneva under the theme of 'A world in turmoil: Parliamentary cooperation and multilateralism for peace, justice and prosperity for all'.The World Conference of Speakers of Parliament brings together the highest level representatives of parliaments and the United Nations every five conferences have played an important role in strengthening the parliamentary dimension of global governance, and bridging the democracy gap in international the conference, the world's top legislators engage with leaders from international organisations, academia, civil society and the media.
Al-Ahram Weekly
11 hours ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt launches platform to map its progress toward 2030 SDGs - Economy
The Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation has launched a new digital platform to track progress toward the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the country's 27 governorates. Announced on Wednesday, the Sustainable Development Goals Data Platform for Governorates offers an interactive, regularly updated dashboard that allows policymakers, researchers, and the public to monitor regional performance on all 17 SDGs. It aims to support data-driven decision-making and help align national and local efforts with Egypt's Vision 2030 development strategy. 'Governorates are at the heart of Egypt's sustainable development strategy,' said Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat. 'This platform allows us to better allocate resources, respond to local needs, and ensure balanced development nationwide.' Built on official data from national agencies, including the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the platform features an interactive map ranking governorates by performance on key development indicators. It draws on internationally recognized methodologies, including those from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Each governorate is evaluated based on three main metrics: the gap between its current standing and its 2030 targets, the annual rate of improvement needed to reach those targets, and how it compares to other governorates on specific indicators. The platform builds on earlier SDG localization reports issued by the ministry in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2021 and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in early 2025. According to the ministry, the tool is intended to guide more efficient public investment, enhance oversight of development financing, and empower local governments to accelerate progress through targeted action. The platform is publicly accessible through here. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
