Bahrain Parliament’s green initiatives have borne fruit with the council becoming the first in the region to obtain the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification for environmental management.
The recognition, given by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), follows the implementation of a range of measures, including installation of solar panels, paperless systems and development of e-parliament practices.
Parliament secretary general Mohammed Al Buainain said the IPU’s commendation reflects the aspirations of His Majesty King Hamad and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Mr Al Buainain
“This achievement comes amidst efforts to promote green values, sustainable development and eco-friendly technologies,” said Mr Al Buainain.
“It also highlights Bahrain’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and national energy strategies.
“This milestone is also the result of continuous guidance from Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam and the efforts of a specialised team in the General Secretariat.”
The IPU posted an article on their website titled ‘Council of Representatives becomes greener and smarter’ and highlighted the Parliament’s environmental achievements and the global trend towards green action.
The report highlighted Bahrain Parliament’s move to instal solar panels which now supply part of the building’s energy needs, reducing reliance on traditional sources.
Additionally, the council expanded its green spaces to improve air quality and support biodiversity.
Beyond structural changes, the members also adopted more sustainable procurement practices, favouring suppliers who comply with environmental standards when purchasing goods and services.
In its drive towards digital transformation, paperless systems were implemented and e-parliament practices were developed, sharply reducing paper consumption, minimising waste and improving operational efficiency, the IPU report added.
Artificial intelligence is also being leveraged to support the council’s green goals by improving resource management, analysing energy consumption patterns, and providing management with enhanced analytical tools.
“These green initiatives form a part of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, which highlights sustainable development and environmental preservation as key pillars of national progress,” the IPU said in the article.
“The Council of Representative’s accreditation follows the March 2023 launch in Manama, at the 146th IPU Assembly, of the IPU’s Parliaments for the Planet climate campaign.
“It encourages parliaments worldwide to adopt greener practices and enact climate legislation.
“Looking ahead, the parliament plans to build on its existing policies through further innovation in renewable energy, sustainable building design and environmental awareness promotion.
“It also aims to position itself as a regional hub for knowledge-sharing, offering workshops and guidance to other parliaments interested in advancing environmental reform.”
In 2021, Bahrain highlighted its strategic commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Additionally, several near-term targets were also announced for 2035.
This includes a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, doubling the renewable energy target under the National Renewable Energy Action Plan from 10pc to 20pc, doubling the number of trees from 1.8 million to approximately 3.6m and quadrupling the mangrove tree population from 400,000 to 1.6m.
Several projects and initiatives relating to climate mitigation and adaptation are underway, including the National Energy Strategy, afforestation campaigns such as Forever Green, and the Coastal Resilience Strategy.
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