Batelco and UNEP Celebrate World Environment Day
‘Kick the CO2 Habit! : Toward a Low Carbon Economy’
**Key Influential Figures Attend Regional Event**
Batelco in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP/ROWA), hosted a special event June 5th at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa for invited guests, to mark World Environment Day 2008.
The event took place under the patronage of H.H. Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Governor of the Southern Governorate, Head of The Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife.
World Environment Day is marked annually on June 5th all over the world, with the objective of raising awareness about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s theme, ‘Kick the CO2 Habit! : Toward a Low Carbon Economy’ focused on the opportunities for companies, communities and countries to de-carbonize their economies and lifestyles. Among the solutions proposed were the reduction of greenhouse gases, alternative energy sources and eco-friendly consumption, in order to counter climate change.
Dr. Ismail Al Madani, Vice President Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife, gave the welcoming address on behalf of Shaikh Abdulla.
"Individuals, governments, and organisations have a role to play in maintaining the eco system balance that God has created, to help avoid the disastrous impacts of global warming on all aspects of life,” said Dr. Al Madani.
"We have to exert every effort possible to bring the eco system balance back to normal, or we will all pay the price of our irresponsible behaviours."
UNEP/ROWA Director & Regional Representative Dr. Habib El Habr, presented an address from UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner followed by United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Sayed Aqa who presented an address from the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.
Additionally, an exhibition of photographs highlighting Bahrain’s environment was displayed at the event. The photographs are the work of students from Reem Al Khalifa’s photography class, which is offered by the University College of Bahrain.
World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates world-wide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
Batelco Group Human Resources General Manager Shaikh Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said that Batelco was delighted to have the opportunity to host the regional celebrations.
“We are very pleased to contribute to highlighting the major issues surrounding protecting the Gulf Region for future generations,” he said.
“At Batelco we are becoming continually more aware of the necessity to ‘think green’ and we are currently looking at ways in which we can become more involved in environmental programmes.”
