In the presence of His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), participated in the activities of the Second Global Water, Energy and Climate Change Congress (GWECCC) under the theme "Sustainable Water and Energy Transition – Innovating for a Secure Future”.
The conference took place on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) at the Exhibition World Bahrain in Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and it was attended by a number of ministers, specialists, and experts from around the world.
HE the GCC Secretary General began his speech by expressing his deepest gratitude, appreciation and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, for hosting this blessed conference. He also expressed his gratitude for the facilities and support provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain to ensure the success of the Council's work, and for the support and attention that joint Gulf action receives from His Majesty and his brothers, Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, in all fields.
His Excellency emphasised that the world is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the worsening effects of climate change and the increasing pressures on water and energy resources. He pointed out that the GCC countries, under the directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, are working to transform these challenges into opportunities by supporting regional integration, enhancing water, energy and food security, and consolidating the path of sustainable development.
HE the GCC Secretary General also pointed to the remarkable successes achieved by the GCC countries in building integrated systems that combine the optimal use of resources, the adoption of innovative solutions and investment in desalination and renewable energy technologies, stressing that this has made them an inspiring model for balancing economic growth, preserving natural resources and addressing the challenges of climate change.
Furthermore, His Excellency highlighted the ambitious national strategies of the GCC states towards carbon neutrality. He explained: "The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is targeting 44% clean energy by 2050, while the Kingdom of Bahrain aims for 20% renewable energy by 2035 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aims to raise its share of renewable energy to 50% by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality in 2060. The Sultanate of Oman is targeting 30% renewable energy by 2030 and 39% by 2040, and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The State of Qatar seeks to provide 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030, while the State of Kuwait aims to generate 15% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”
Moreover, HE the GCC Secretary General clarified that these strategies reflect the commitment of the GCC states to climate responsibility and their focus on innovation, technology, in addition to investment in human capital. "This enhances the security of supplies and multiplies the economic and social impact of sustainable energy projects," His Excellency highlighted.
At the conclusion of his speech, HE the GCC Secretary General expressed his confidence that the GCC states possess the will, capabilities, and institutions to play a leading role in the path of global sustainability.
He reiterated his thanks to the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting the conference, hoping that it would produce specific recommendations that contribute to advancing Gulf and international efforts towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.
