Dubai-SANA- The head of the Syrian delegation to the Climate Action Summit, Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, confirmed that Western coercive measures against Syria affect all aspects of life, including environmental and climate issues.
In an interview on Sky News Arabia channel, Arnous said that reducing the effects of drought, supporting the shift to modern irrigation, relying on renewable energy sources, and reducing the emission of harmful gases constitute priorities for government work in Syria.
“Syria, like any country, bears the concerns of the ongoing climate change, which represents a threat to the world. Thus, collective measures must be taken, each country according to its capabilities, whether in mitigating climate damage or adapting to it.” Arnous noted.
Premier Arnous pointed out that Syria was among the first countries to sign the climate agreement in 2007, and also officially joined and signed the Paris Climate Agreement.
Arnous added that sustainability in agriculture and the transition to renewable energies are proceeding at an increasing pace, like all economic activities in Syria, which are growing significantly.
He went on to say: A portion of Syria’s underground wealth is stolen in full view of the entire world by the terrorists and occupation, and a portion of it is refined in very bad primitive ways that leave major impacts on the environment, the people of the region, agricultural lands, and water.
The shortage of oil derivatives due to theft and siege put pressure on the forests and prompted many people to rely on them for heating in the winter, Arnous highlighted, adding “And just like the terrorist and economic war, climate changes in Syria affected production as well.”
Arnous praised the initiative of the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , to create a global climate-focused fund, during the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28).
The Prime Minister stressed that Syria is working with all countries and organizations to mitigate the effects of climate change, and it is present at the “COP28” conference to participate in all its activities and to exchange experiences and discuss possible solutions to help overcome the difficulties of climate change.