Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the head of the Kuwaiti delegation taking part in the summit, noted in her address to the conference that Kuwait adhered to all resolutions that had been issued by the 1992 Earth Summit.
“We hope this conference will realize our aspiration as to drawing up a future road map for securing better standards of living for peoples of the world and preserving resources of this planet for the next generations,” said Sheikha Amthal, who also noted that she was a member of a delegation that represented Kuwait at the 1992 Earth Summit, headed by the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
This conference constitutes an opportunity to review and evaluate what had been accomplished in terms of objectives and discuss means of overcoming hurdles “that have faced our efforts for drawing up work programs and follow up mechanisms to meet future requirements.
“The State of Kuwait affirms necessity of implementing principles and mechanisms of sustainable development, adopted at the Earth Summit in 1992,” Sheikha Amthal said.
Sheikha Amthal affirmed right of states to develop their resources and economies, according to each country’s circumstances and needs.
Shedding some light on Kuwait’s long record of efforts for aiding people, Sheikha Amthal drew attention of the attendees to the initiative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, during the Arab economic summit in January 2009, calling or setting up a two billion dollars fund for financing small enterprises in the Arab world. Kuwait alone donated up to $500 million for the fund.
Moreover, HH the Amir had masterminded establishment of a fund for honorable living, aimed at aiding nations to improve agricultural production. Kuwait had contributed $100 million towards that effort.
Furthermore, Kuwait, since its independence, has supported a long chain of development and philanthropic ventures in various spots of the earth, out of its belief in the necessity of backing efforts of the international community to realize sustainable development and contribute in programs of combating poverty.
Much of the aid granted to nations, communities and associations in need has been secured and relayed through Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).
Roundtable
Earlier, Sheikha Amthal, attended a roundtable meeting held on the sidelines of the summit.
Speaking at the meeting, Sheikha Amthal called for setting a clear-cut definition of green economy before using it as a key tool for development.
She said the green economy attracted much attention from the UN, its agencies, programs and funds in the field of environment and development.
She elaborated that the green economy is an ambiguous concept that has no unequivocal definition, and that there are still divergent views on the influence of green economy policies on sustainable development and poverty eradication.
“The State of Kuwait sees that it is necessary to reach agreement at first on a clear-cut concept of green economy before using it as a key development tool,” she added.
Sheikha Amthal went on to say that developing countries should be given full freedom to set out their respective policies and strategies that match their potential and capabilities for the purpose of achieving sustainable development.
She voiced her country’s satisfaction with the contents of the final communiqué of the conference, which include developing countries’ fears over the application of green economy.
Sheikha Amthal and her accompanying delegation departed Brazil Friday after representing the State of Kuwait at the UN Sustainable Development Conference, Rio+20.
Sheikha Amthal was seen off at the airport by Kuwait Ambassador to Brazil Yousif Ahmad Abdulsamad, Kuwait Embassy staff Musaed Al-Dhubeebi and a representative from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.
Before the delegation’s departure, the Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdulsamad held a luncheon in their honor.
Sheikha Amthal delivered Kuwait’s speech in the summit reflecting Kuwait’s vision on the most proper ways to achieve the summit’s goals.
Over 130 world leaders have participated in the Rio+20 summit, in addition to thousands of business executives, mayors, civil society groups, youth and indigenous peoples.
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The Rio+20, also known as Earth Summit 2012, is taking place 20 years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where countries adopted Agenda 21, which is a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection.
The summit represents “another milestone in ongoing international efforts to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable development globally and aims to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and address new and emerging challenges.”
