24/04/2026
Share:
24/04/2026
Share:
KUWAIT CITY, April 24: The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries organized a symbolic tree-planting initiative in the Diplomatic Area, with the participation of several heads of missions and members of the diplomatic corps. This initiative aimed to promote environmental diplomacy and support national efforts to increase green spaces and combat desertification.
Dr. Amira Al-Hassan, Head of the UN-Habitat Mission in Kuwait and the GCC countries, stated in a press release on Friday that the choice of the Arfaj plant carries profound national and environmental significance, as it symbolizes resilience and adaptation to the desert environment. Dr. Al-Hassan added that the participation of diplomatic missions in this initiative exemplifies a practical model of international cooperation in addressing the challenges of climate change and enhancing the quality of life in cities.
She explained that this event is part of UN-Habitat's efforts to highlight Kuwait's environmental initiatives and its efforts to combat desertification, increase green spaces, and raise public awareness of the importance of protecting the local environment. She added that transforming urban spaces into greener areas is both a symbolic and practical step towards supporting the "Green Kuwait" vision and reinforcing the concept that environmental protection is a shared responsibility that transcends borders.
For her part, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the State of Kuwait, Tuba Sönmez, affirmed in a similar statement that her country's participation in this initiative stems from a firm commitment to environmental sustainability and aligns with international efforts aimed at strengthening the balanced relationship between humanity and nature, in addition to supporting the State of Kuwait's efforts to expand its green spaces and enhance the quality of its urban environment. Sönmez stated that participating in such initiatives underscores the bonds of brotherhood and friendship that unite Turkey and Kuwait, and that this symbolic act of planting native plants transcends being merely an environmental activity to express a shared humanitarian message affirming that environmental protection is a collective responsibility shared by nations and societies.
The event witnessed the participation of the embassies of Turkey, Malaysia, the Russian Federation, the United Arab Emirates, and India, where participants planted the Arfaj plant, the national flower of the State of Kuwait, along with a variety of native plants, as an expression of international solidarity with Kuwait's environmental vision and its efforts to promote urban sustainability.
The initiative is part of the "Kuwait Plants" campaign launched by UN-Habitat in Kuwait in 2017. The campaign aims to instill a culture of agriculture and environmental awareness, encouraging various segments of society, including the diplomatic community, to contribute to protecting the local environment and preserving its natural components.
The initiative also coincides with World Earth Day, observed annually on April 22, giving the event added symbolic significance and underscoring its connection to global efforts to protect the planet, promote environmental awareness, and reinforce the responsibility of communities and nations towards sustainability and climate action.
