The Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), held a regional workshop on Advancing Environmental Data Governance to Support Decision-Making in West Asia.
Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the SCE, and His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Deputy Chief Executive of the SCE, were present.
Al Rumaihi emphasised that the Kingdom attaches particular importance to advancing environmental governance by developing data management systems in line with international best practices, thereby enhancing the efficiency of relevant national and regional policies.
She noted that these efforts fall within the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting joint environmental action and building reliable data systems that enable evidence-based decision-making, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international environmental agreements.
Al Rumaihi added that the workshop provides an important platform for exchanging expertise and enhancing regional cooperation on environmental data, through the development of practical mechanisms to address challenges related to data collection, organisation, and analysis. She expressed confidence that joint action would enable countries in the region to build more integrated and consistent databases, strengthening their capacity to take effective decisions that meet national priorities and support sustainable development pathways.
Abdul-Majeid Haddad, Regional Coordinator of UNEP in West Asia, said the workshop represents an initial step towards a regional initiative to strengthen environmental data governance, noting the importance of developing a shared understanding of the role of accurate data in supporting environmental policies and ensuring their sustainability.
The workshop addressed key themes, including the basic concepts of environmental data management, challenges related to collection, organisation, documentation, and analysis, as well as ways of harmonising methods and approaches among institutions to ensure coherence of efforts.
It also served as an opportunity to strengthen regional dialogue on practical solutions and exchange experiences, contributing to the identification of national priorities and the development of joint regional pathways.