Bahrain’s urbanisation experience aligned with SD11, says Housing Minister AT COP28.
Bahrain’s largest residential city, Salman Town, took centre stage at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in the UAE, serving as a testament to the kingdom’s dedication to a sustainable future.
Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Amna bint Ahmed Al Romaihi, also underscored the ministry’s focus on enhancing waterfronts and public beaches in coastal towns, adjusting reclamation boundaries to optimize water movement, and designating new areas for mangrove tree cultivation and ecological habitat preservation.
These initiatives vividly illustrate Bahrain’s urbanisation experience aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable), underlined Minister Al Romaihi.
“The Bahrain government’s commitment to using environmentally friendly materials and designs is seen in Salman City, the largest residential city in the kingdom,” said the minister.
“The housing ministry pays attention to preparing waterfronts and public beaches in coastal towns, modifying reclamation boundaries to improve water movement, and allocating new sites for mangrove tree cultivation and ecological habitat preservation.”
Madinat Salman (previously known as Al Madina Al Shamaliya), is a group of 10 reclaimed islands situated on the northern coastline of Bahrain. Designed primarily as a residential development, the town boasts a mix of lifestyle, commercial, and retail outlets to support the community. The overall site covers approximately 750 hectares, providing thousands of housing units with the capacity to support a total residential population of 98,935 people.
Ms Al Romaihi affirmed the kingdom’s advanced strides in incorporating sustainability principles into its development plans and projects as she addressed the second Ministerial Meeting on Urbanisation and Climate Change at COP28.
She highlighted the necessity of concerted local, regional, and international efforts to implement sustainable development plans and modernise housing policies in line with development goals. She emphasised that Bahrain’s urban planning and development experience aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This aligns with Bahrain’s broader efforts to support the kingdom’s comprehensive development process and its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Ms Al Romaihi emphasised the government’s continuous efforts to develop planning standards that ensure the sustainability of cities, including updating regulatory requirements for urbanisation to enhance demand for agricultural lands. She also highlighted the government’s focus on incorporating sustainability elements into all stages of planning and implementing housing projects, with an emphasis on environmental aspects and humanising housing cities by increasing green spaces and providing designated paths for walking and cycling to reduce vehicle usage.
The minister underlined Bahrain’s continued efforts to enhance sustainability in national plans and programs, prioritising the goals of the Convention to Combat Climate Change and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Following the meeting, Ms, along with Oil and Environment Minister and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, visited Bahrain’s pavilion at COP28, commending the ongoing efforts to showcase the kingdom’s plans and programs to mitigate the effects of climate change. Their visit underscored Bahrain’s commitment to climate action and its dedication to contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.
Picture courtesy – Muharraqi Studios