Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, inaugurated the Istidama Centre of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture in Manama.

Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, and Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, were present.

The centre is a specialised hub for awareness, training and capacity-building in sustainability, the green economy and carbon neutrality, aimed at promoting environmental knowledge and embedding sustainable practices.

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah affirmed that Bahrain continues to build on its achievements in infrastructure and leverage its capabilities in line with the highest innovative standards to support sustainability across vital sectors, in pursuit of the goals of the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

He highlighted the importance attached to sustainability and the optimal use of resources within government programmes, noting that the environment is a priority in development plans aimed at achieving a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. This reflects Bahrain’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals and its target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, in line with the priorities and pillars of the Government Programme.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the pivotal role of strategic public-private partnerships in promoting a culture of sustainability and translating it into practical applications, noting that quality private-sector initiatives support government efforts to invest in national talent and equip them with knowledge and tools for environmental innovation.

During the ceremony, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah toured the centre’s various sections and reviewed its services and training and awareness programmes, as well as the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence to collect and analyse waste and recycling data.

He was also briefed on the centre’s real-time monitoring systems, which enable it to produce accurate indicators and statistics supporting sustainability efforts. He also reviewed key private-sector initiatives and projects and the contributions of public and private schools, reflecting the integration of efforts and effective partnerships in supporting environmental protection and the transition towards a green economy.

The ceremony also witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding to support the Istidama Centre between the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and Bahrain Islamic Bank and "Safaa", Bahrain’s national carbon offsetting and climate action platform and a subsidiary of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company.

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah commended the efforts of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and those overseeing the Istidama Centre, expressing appreciation to the partners for their support, which he described as a practical application of social responsibility in advancing environmental action.

For his part, Minister Al Mubarak expressed his appreciation to the Deputy Prime Minister for inaugurating the centre, praising his support for efforts to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices.

He affirmed that the Istidama Centre represents a significant addition to national initiatives aimed at expanding community participation and enhancing the role of individuals and institutions as active partners in conserving resources and protecting the environment.