GCC workshop reviews progress on sustainable DEVELOPMENT GOALS

MUSCAT: A regional workshop focused on monitoring progress towards the environmental dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) began on Monday in Muscat. Organised by the Statistical Centre of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the two-day event brings together national and regional bodies responsible for environmental data and sustainable development.
The workshop reviews the status of environmental indicators across GCC countries, examines national and regional efforts in monitoring SDG-related data, and presents ongoing statistical projects in the environmental field. It also explores opportunities to strengthen coordination mechanisms among entities producing environmental data and highlights international best practices, including those of ESCWA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Dr Saeed bin Mohammed al Saqri, Minister of Economy, emphasised the importance of reinforcing statistical efforts to track environmental and sustainable development progress. He noted the crucial role played by the GCC Statistical Centre in streamlining data exchange, harmonising methodologies, and adopting modern tools for data collection and dissemination.
Al Saqri highlighted that the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda stresses the need for efficient natural resource management and a balance between environmental protection, economic growth, and social wellbeing. This is particularly significant given global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource scarcity.
Intisar bint Abdullah al Wahaibiyah, Director General of the GCC Statistical Centre, said the workshop aims to strengthen coordination between environmental data producers and national statistical agencies to ensure alignment with international practices. She reported several key achievements across GCC states, including over 98 per cent access to safe drinking water and more than 95 per cent access to safely managed sanitation services.
Despite challenges related to limited natural resources, she noted progress in water-use efficiency and the expansion of desalination and water reuse projects. In climate action, greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 8 per cent since 2015, with member states continuing efforts towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
Al Wahaibiyah added that GCC countries have achieved notable advancements in marine sustainability, with all exclusive economic zones managed under integrated ecological frameworks. Marine acidity levels have stabilised, sustainable fish stocks have reached 92 per cent, and marine protected areas now cover 20.8 per cent of coastal zones.
In biodiversity protection, she said protected land areas have expanded to 26.3 per cent, while the Red List Index for the region reached 0.88—exceeding the global average of 0.72.
The workshop includes presentations on environmental indicators, statistical methods, and data dissemination, as well as sessions led by ESCWA and UNEP experts on modern environmental monitoring tools. Day two focuses on successful regional case studies and strengthening capacity-building efforts.
Participants include representatives from GCC statistical agencies, environmental authorities, academic institutions, and international organisations specialising in sustainable development. — ONA