Cairo: Lamya Al Fadhala, Director-General of the Northern Area Municipality, participated in a panel discussion on the role of local governments in unlocking the transformative power of public spaces in Arab cities held as part of the 12th World Urban Forum currently underway in Egypt.
Lamya Al Fadhala underscored Bahrain’s commitment to sustainability across various developmental, social, economic, and environmental domains, which has enabled Bahrain to develop urban projects that are comprehensive, flexible, and sustainable in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Al Fadhala highlighted the significant value Bahrain places on a sustainable urban agenda, which ensures a clear vision within advanced urban planning strategies. She also addressed the food security project, a bold initiative aimed at increasing national production by ensuring sustainable food supplies. This project operates on a strategic framework designed to meet future food security targets.
She highlighted the success of the Farmers’ Market and the annual Bahrain Animal and Agricultural Production Exhibition “Marai”, which plays an important role in advancing the agricultural and livestock sectors, supporting local production, promoting food security, and encouraging investment, all of which contribute to the national economy.
Al Fadhala reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to meeting its national and international climate change obligations and supporting the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 through various national projects and initiatives focused on expanding the vegetative cover across all governorates. Key initiatives include the National Afforestation Plan, National Tree Week, and the mangrove reforestation project.
She further emphasised the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture’s dedication to balanced urban growth, achieved by establishing an integrated framework for implementing the national development strategy and meeting the goals of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
Al Fadhala highlighted Bahrain’s commitment to global partnerships for sustainable development through the cooperation agreement between the ministry and UN-Habitat, aimed at advancing urban programmes, strengthening human resources, and building local capacity across various domains. This collaboration recently led to the launch of Buthoor Al Bahrain (Seeds of Bahrain) campaign, part of the Building Smart, Green, and Sustainable Cities project, implemented by UN-Habitat in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
