Kuwait discusses steps to lower emissions as temperatures rise

Kuwait’s cabinet ordered a review into plans to reduce emissions from government projects in a country that is one of the largest carbon emitters per capita, and among the world’s hottest.

The cabinet told the Gulf state’s Environment Public Authority (EPA) to work on ensuring implementation of Kuwait’s commitments and international agreements, according to a statement late on Monday. The EPA can coordinate with the ministry of finance to allocate the funds needed, it said.

Kuwait has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 7.4 per cent by 2035, a target that falls far short of the 45 per cent reduction needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s stretch goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C by 2030.

According to the Environment Public Authority, parts of the country could get as much as 4.5°C hotter from 2071 to 2100 compared with the historical average.