Executive Summary 's Third

NationalCommunication

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Kingdom of Bahrain Supreme Council for Environment July 2020

SCE book Executive Summery English.indd 1 7/11/20 11:16 AM His Royal Highness His Majesty His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa The Prime Minister King of The Kingdom of Bahrain The Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister

SCE book Executive Summery English.indd 3 7/11/20 11:16 AM A

y r t a i s b r ia e n iv Gulf Un

Bahrain’s Third National Communication (TNC) was coordinated by the Supreme Council (SCE) for Environment and prepared in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, West Asia Office (UNEP), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

An agreement with the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) and University of Bahrain (UOB) was established to execute the technical studies. Preparation of the TNC was a national effort with the participation of experts representing different national entities.

SCE book Executive Summery English.indd 5 7/11/20 11:16 AM Abdullah Bin Hamad AL Khalifa President, Supreme Council for Environment - Kingdom of Bahrain

Foreword

I am pleased to present the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Third National Communication as part of Kingdom›s commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as the Paris Climate Agreement.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is keen to preserve the environment and its natural resources from depletion, as stated in its Economic Vision 2030, which encourages more sustainable sources of energy and investment in green technologies that contribute to mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small island nation. One of the most serious threats to its development is sea level rise due to climate change. Therefore, Bahrain has embarked on implementing its international obligations, taking climate change into account in the formulation of policies, activities and development plans.

The Kingdom believes that the need to respond to climate change is incumbent on all countries under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The Paris commitments require a common global effort at various levels and a significant flexibility on part of developed countries to provide funding for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and to facilitate technology transfer to enable greenhouse gas reductions and avoid the adverse impacts associated with climate change.

Finally, I would like to thank all ministries and national institutions that contributed to the preparation of this report; the technical assistance provided by the Western Asia Office of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP); and the support of international experts.

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SCE book Executive Summery English.indd 1 7/11/20 11:16 AM Executive summary

Bahrain is a small island developing state (SIDS) In 2017. Bahrain began construction of the Middle situated in the west central part of the Arabian Gulf, East’s first liquified natural gas (LNG) receiving and about 25 km east of Saudi Arabia. Total land area is regasification terminal off shore Hidd Industrial Area currently about 780 km2, with a mostly flat, gently on Muharraq Island. When complete, the facility will rolling topography and a total coastline of 946 km. help Bahrain meet increasing demand for natural gas for industrial and urban development. National circumstances Five power stations with a combined installed capacity Bahrain’s coastline and land area have evolved of 3.9 GW account for Bahrain electric generation. considerably over the last 30 years due to a series Electricity consumption per capita is high, and is of land reclama